If you visit the YPA website https://www.youngerparkinsonsalliance.org you will notice that Fighting Fit’s Pat Salter is one of its board members.
Speaking about the YPA Pat says:
“All members speak from the experience of living with Parkinson’s and are passionate about ending stigma and creating change”.
The principle objectives of the YPA for 2020 are as follows:
- Supporting close relationships – making sure younger people with Parkinson’s have a supportive network, and that they and their loved ones don’t feel alone or isolated.
- Shaping better services – continuing to improve understanding and care for people with Young Onset Parkinson’s within the NHS and Parkinson’s UK services.
- Improving employment experience – making employers and workplaces more Parkinson’s-friendly and help people with Parkinson’s get what they need from their employment experience.
On the YPA website you will find resources and toolkit specially developed for people with Young Onset Parkinson’s.
A recent development that’s definitely worth listening to is a series of podcasts created for a younger Parkinson’s community. The first episode is about the process and experience of diagnosis, then there’s a great one on medication supported by Annette Hand (Excellence Network Clinical lead for nursing and Parkinson’s Nurse Consultant) and next month’s is all about exercise.
Check it out!