CARE PARTNER SUMMIT
Resources – Education – Support
Saturday, March 21, 2026
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Doors Open at 9:30 AM)
PROVIDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH
4921 Randolph Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
The Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) is proud to invite you to our second annual Care Partner Summit, a FREE, in-person event created especially for those who care for a loved one living with Parkinson’s disease.
Join us on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Charlotte, NC for a meaningful day focused on you—the care partner. This summit is designed to offer practical strategies to support your own well-being while continuing to provide the best possible care for your loved one.
Attendees will hear from expert speakers, enjoy lunch, have the opportunity to connect with others who understand the caregiving journey. Whether you are new to caregiving or have been supporting a loved one for years, this event offers education, encouragement, and community in a supportive environment.
All attendees will also be entered into a drawing for a FREE, 90 minute massage, compliments of Stillwater Massage and Bodywork.
The deadline to register is March 8, 2026.
We listened to your feedback and heard it was difficult for some people to attend the Care Partner Summit last year because they could not leave their loved one with Parkinson’s alone. PAC is very excited to be partnering with The Ivey to offer a day of social connection, engaging activities, and lunch for your loved one with Parkinson’s disease. A Day at the Ivey will provide a supportive and safe environment so you can enjoy the Care Partner Summit. Care will be provided from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, just a short drive from Providence Baptist Church.
Click here to learn more about A Day at the Ivey. If you are interested in having your loved one participate in this opportunity, please indicate this on your registration form. We will reach out to you with more information, including the pre-registration forms.
*Please note, you will be required to participate in a group orientation, offered on 2/19 or 3/5 at 10 AM, or on Zoom if you are unable to attend those times. All participants must be independent in the restroom, not require 2-person transfer, and not require supplemental oxygen.
Address for The Ivey:
6030 Park South Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210
Agenda
9:30-10:00 AM
Arrive, check in, and visit vendors
10:00-11:00 AM
Prioritizing Self-Care Helps Prevent Stress and Burnout, Carolyn Dowdy
11:00-12:00 PM
On Your Feet: Fall Prevention and Safe Assistance Skills, Mattie Ablitz
12:00-12:30 PM
Vendor Visit
12:30-1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00-1:50 PM
Small Group Discussion Sessions
1:50-2:00 PM
Wrap-up and Closing
Meet the Speakers
Mattie Ablitz, MOTR/L is an Occupational Therapist with over 13 years of clinical experience. Mattie is an expert in the treatment of adults and seniors in the home care setting, with special focus on home safety, home modifications, wheelchair seating, adaptive equipment, and working with clients and families with advanced-stage neurological diagnoses. She earned her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from James Madison University, and has clinical experience in a wide variety of settings including home health, inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, adult day care centers, skilled nursing, and mental health. Mattie is a certified Falls Prevention Specialist, and has micro credentials from the American Occupational Therapy Association in the areas of Home Modification/Fall Prevention and Community Mobility. Mattie owns a private mobile-outpatient therapy practice in Charlotte, NC, focusing on home safety, home modifications, adaptive equipment assessments, and caregiver training.
Carolyn Dowdy is the Founder and President of Caregiver Mental Wellness, Inc., a
nonprofit dedicated to helping parents and other caregivers prevent burnout. With over 25 years in training and 18 years as a caregiver herself, she blends professional expertise with lived experience. After 5+ years of research, she created a holistic selfcare program to reduce stress and support caregivers’ wellbeing….a framework inspired by her own journey of prioritizing self-care. She lives in Concord, NC with her disabled husband,
Morgan.
Venue
Sponsors
PAC would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support of the Care Partner Summit.
Platinum
Silver
Bronze
Briar Creek at the Barclay
Wellness Sponsor
A limited number of sponsorships are still available. Please contact Charlie Godfrey, PAC’s Development Director for more information at cgodfrey@parkinsonassociation.org or (980) 245-2786.
If you have questions about the Care Partner Summit or need help registering, please contact Gillian Schultz, PAC’s Program Director at gschultz@parkinsonassociation.org or (980) 245-2786.
