SEEKING A FEW ADVENTUROUS PARKIES

 

Riffing on the Marine Corps ditty, I am seeking a Few Adventurous Parkies. Your mission –if you have been diagnosed with PD three years ago or less –is to join a gungho, potentially life-changing Tampa-area adventure named PD SELF.

WHAT IS IT?

PD SELF is a validated training program that provides People With Parkinson’s Disease (PWP) the knowledge and tools necessary to become masters of their treatment plan. That mastery enables you to bend your PD trajectory in the direction you desire.

Many people are handed the diagnosis with very little guidance on what to do next. But the diagnosis is life changing. Facing life with a chronic progressive disease means changes to health, relationships, family life, employment and finances.

Research tells us that when people are given the resources to cope with these changes, they are empowered to take an active role in managing PD, leading to better health and quality of life.

PD SELF (Self-Efficacy Learning Forum) is an innovative disease management program that offers this approach. It was developed in 2013 by Diane Cook as part of a clinical trial sponsored by the Colorado Neurological Institute.

Based on the psychosocial theory of self-efficacy, PD SELF helps people newly diagnosed with PD to create a personalized approach to managing their disease. Self-efficacy is the confidence a person has in his or her ability to influence an outcome or be successful in achieving a result. Self-efficacy beliefs determine how people think, feel and motivate themselves. It is increasingly used in health care for its effectiveness in helping people to adopt healthier behaviors.

A central focus of PD SELF is to help people strengthen self-efficacy beliefs, thereby positively influencing the management of their disease.

 

WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR PD SELF?

We are seeking newly diagnosed patients, ideally less than three years ago. We will consider people diagnosed more than three years ago for our stand-by group. A major criterion for selection is demonstrated proactivity in PD and non-PD pursuits. An electronic application will be available soon. August 15 is our target for completion of selections. Please download Skype for an interview with group facilitators.

 

WHEN IS IT AND WHO WILL BE INVOLVED?

From 13 to 18 PWP, plus an equal number of their care partners, will meet once a month from September to June. Each session will last 2 1/2 hours. Meeting day is Thursday. Meeting time is negotiable between facilitators and participants but will be between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

 

WHERE IS IT?

The training will be at the Portico, an urban, outreach extension of Hyde Park United Methodist Church. Portico is at the intersection of Florida and Tyler Avenues. Street address is 1001 N. Florida Ave.

 

MUST I ATTEND EVERY SESSION?

Barring an unforeseen emergency, yes you must. Each module contains tightly compressed information vital to full understanding of PD and its many complexities.

 

WHO SPONSORS THE TRAINING?

Program sponsor is the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Greater Tampa is one of eight cities chosen to receive this national program

 

WHAT’S THE COST?

None. It’s free of charge to participants.

 

WHO ARE THE PD SELF FACILITATORS?

USF Health administrator Sherry Harlan and me.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Contact me at gthelen1@icloud.com, 813-787-3886 or Sherry Harlan at sharlan@health.usf.edu, 813-396-0768.