By Corey Everitt
Pakenham Parkinson’s Support Group has gathered this month to mark Parkinson’s Awareness Month with a call out to see more people involved in helping locals with the illness and their families.
The group met at Toomah Community Centre on Wednesday 17 February for their monthly meet up for a coffee and a chat.
This meeting was a special one for the year as April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
In Australia, 150,000 people are believed to be suffering from Parkinson’s disease with 50 people diagnosed everyday on average.
It’s the fastest growing neurological disease in the world and is the second most common in Australia behind dementia.
The group is a part of Fight Parkinson’s and is the only branch in the Cardinia area.
Going on now for approximately 13 years, the group’s activity is as simple as a chat and coffee. However, co-leader Deb Nyhuis effect is much more.
“People tend to isolate themselves, we are just trying to put ourselves out there to encourage people to come along and chat with like minded people,” she said.
“It’s for people to talk to each other, not everyone can open up and just hearing someone else’s story could be encouraging to that person.
“Everyone feels a bit different about it with their coping mechanism, but our group has grown and our feedback is that it’s such a positive space to be in.”
It’s not only just for those with the illness, but for their carers and families to have a space to feel connected as well.
Furthermore, the work can go a long way in breaking down the assumptions of the public with a group out and about it can give a human face to the illness.
“People tend to think it’s just an illness that’s directed more at elderly people and that’s not the case, there are a lot of young people with it now in their 30s and 40s,” Deb said.
“We have people from as far away as Warrugul, Emerald, Kooweerup, Berwick, we are the only group in this area.
“We are encouraging anyone in the community living with Parkinson’s or a carer for someone with Parkinson’s to come and have a chat and a coffee.
“They will be welcomed by friends who understand and are encouraging, I just don’t want anyone to feel alone with this.”
If you wish to contact the Pakenham Parkinson’s Support Group you can email deecn@live.com.au
