What are Parkinson’s Support Groups?
Parkinson’s support groups are a gathering of people with common experiences or concerns who provide each other with encouragement, comfort, and advice. Support groups are also a place to give and receive emotional and practical support to others who are in the same situation. Parkinson’s support group meetings provide you with a chance to:
- Share information about medical diagnosis, treatments, research, and strategies
- Talk about your feelings and receive confirmation that there are others dealing with the same challenges
- Compare common symptoms and ways that each person has handled the symptoms
- Discuss issues that are unique to care partners and family members of people with Parkinson’s disease
- Learn from expert speaker presentations
Why join a Parkinson’s support group?
People who have been through, or are going through, a similar circumstance can do more than sympathize with you — they can relate to your situation and keep you from feeling like you are alone. Support group members offer firsthand insight into many aspects of navigating the disease.
For some people, the most difficult step is walking through the door, but most find that once they make the decision, the experience is helpful and supportive. Remember, a support group is not a substitute for medical treatment or professional counseling and it is not a replacement for family and friends.
Please contact PAC’s Program Director for more information about support groups in your area, including contact information and when the group meets.
Parkinson Association of the Carolinas Virtual Support Group!
On the first Wednesday of every month at 12:00 PM, we invite everyone from our community to join us for Virtual Support Groups for FREE via Zoom! Whether you are a person with Parkinson’s disease, a care partner, a family member or friend, or a community member we want to help you to be proactive about your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
Upcoming Virtual Support Groups
Past Virtual Support Group Sessions
Missed a session? Check out our YouTube channel to tune into a past Virtual Support Group presentation.
Additional Parkinson’s Support Groups Around the Carolinas
Click the button below for a listing of support groups around North Carolina and south Carolina. Please contact a PAC team member for more information about signing up to attend a support group at (980) 245-2786. If you would like to submit your support group for public listing or would like to submit changes to a listed support group, please contact pac@parkinsonassociation.org.
What can PAC do to help a Parkinson’s support group?
PAC strives to provide group leaders with ongoing support to design and facilitate meetings that are in line with participants’ expectations and needs. Whether you’re starting a new group, transitioning to a leadership role, or need to refresh your meetings, PAC is here to help. PAC also maintains a list of individuals and organizations that are willing to speak to support groups on the challenges patients encounter during their journey.
The Parkinson Association of the Carolinas helps to support nearly 50 volunteer-led support groups throughout North and South Carolina. For assistance with a support group, or if you would like to facilitate a new support group in your area PAC can help! Please contact the Program Director, Gillian Schultz, at (980) 245-2786 or pac@parkinsonassociation.org.
PAC’s Speakers Bureau
We are always seeking community partners in North and South Carolina to join our Speaker’s Bureau. Our guest speakers host presentations on a variety of Parkinson’s disease (PD) related topics, such as understanding the condition, research updates, managing symptoms, available therapies and treatments, and sharing personal experiences.
If you are interested in serving as a guest speaker, please click here to submit the Potential Speakers Interest Form online. You can also print and complete a PDF version of the form, and mail it to PAC’s office at the following address:
PO Box 1465, Matthews, NC 28106