The youth community of the association
Young contender, the Parkinson's Association reaches out to you.
Together with you, in a personalized way, we can create a lifestyle with Parkinson's
Best quality and over time.
In Israel, about 30 people are currently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, of which about 7500 are young people under the age of 50.
Young people with Parkinson's face unique challenges – both medical and emotional and social. The disease appears at a time when many are in the midst of careers, raising families and building community lives, and it can affect their ability to function, work pace and financial security. In addition to coping with physical symptoms, many are forced to deal with a lack of understanding from their environment and a sense of isolation, because the disease is often perceived as associated with old age.
It's important to know – there is something you can do to preserve your quality of life and your sense of meaning and independence! The association's youth community is here for you!
The association operates a national youth branch (up to age 55), which is managed by Ms. Tzipi Goldberger.
Support groups for young Parkinson's contenders
The mental aspects of Parkinson's disease significantly affect the ability of the patient and his family members to cope with the difficulties posed by the disease. Effective coping is very important in maintaining day-to-day functions, in independence, and in the continuation of the life of creation and doing.
Awareness, openness and alertness to the existence of emotional distress, along with a willingness to discuss the various aspects of the existence of the difficulty, constitute the first step in the direction of coping. Care, support and encouragement can be provided by the doctor, nurse, social worker or other caregivers. Support can be provided through individual or group contact, according to the needs of the contestants and their family members.
In recent years, the publications in the world and in Israel are multiplying on the importance of support groups as an integral part of the treatment of patients and family members.
The goals of the support groups are to provide support, encourage and strengthen the coping of patients and their families, process their emotional reactions, provide information related to the disease and lay out additional ways to treat the patient, to preserve the quality of life and social functions.
One of the advantages of a support group is that people can not only actively participate in the group but also see others participating. A support group is an environment where members can receive feedback from others about their behavior and receive information about the impact of their behavior on others, information that is not normally accessible to them. In a support group the individual can try new behaviors and express feelings, if they choose to do so. Participating in the group allows the individual to come into contact and experience difficulties with other people in a protected, supportive and friendly environment.
Experience shows that these support groups can be a source of support, encouragement, and strengthening of coping methods for patients and their families.
The association operates several support groups, including groups specifically for young contestants.
Did you know?
- Physical activity has a great impact on the quality of life of those living with Parkinson's disease and on the rate of development of the disease, therefore, it is of utmost importance to combine the activity with the drug treatment.
- Optimism is the name of the game 1-In the last decade, a huge worldwide research effort has been invested in understanding the causes of the disease, with the aim of developing preventive treatments or those that will stop the rate of its progress. In addition, many financial resources are invested in technologies for early diagnosis, in the development of innovative treatments and significant drugs to relieve symptoms.
- Optimism is the name of the game 2- Parkinson's is a continuation of something new. The Parkinson's Association will be happy to help you recalculate a course in order to lead a better quality of life.
- The association works to change the perception of the disease - in all its components - in the eyes of the contestants, their families, the government institutions and the public and to improve the quality of life and the exhaustion of the contestants' rights.
Acquiring knowledge and providing information
In order to help young Parkinson's contestants, the association organizes activities for contestants and their families and caregivers in collaboration with experienced experts from the fields of medical and paramedical care.
These activities deal with many issues related to the various stages in the young contestant's life, as well as illness, treatments, medical information, rights (medical, social security, authorities, insurance corporations, etc.), physical activity and group support.
This information is transmitted by various means:
- hot line
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Meetings with other contestants
- The association's website
- Conferences
- Discussions
- Webinars
- The association's newsletter
- seminars
- panels
- And more ...
Advice and support
- The hotline – a telephone response to unsolicited inquiries from those with Parkinson's and their families. The line is open and available Sunday-Thursday from 08:00 AM to 20:00 PM. It is intended for all those with Parkinson's, both adults and children, and their families to receive help, support, and information from the heart.
Phone number – 054-6125043 - New Challenger Support and Directions Program – Support and personal guidance for new challengers, up to two years from the diagnosis of the disease. The association also developed the "Directions" program, which provides a supportive framework, built in a modular manner, so that each challenger can use the program's services according to their needs and the stage they are at.
- Conferences and seminars – an annual Parkinson's conference during Parkinson's Awareness Month, which includes a variety of activities for the well-being of patients, and works to raise awareness of the disease and its challenges among the general public, and several-day seminars (usually a summer seminar and a winter seminar) for sufferers and their spouses that include lectures, support groups, physical activity classes, creative activities, and social activities.
- Meetings/Support Groups - Support groups are an important element for Parkinson's sufferers and their families. Another important component of a good quality of life with Parkinson's disease is maintaining contact with other sufferers, their partners and families. In meetings, you talk about everyday problems, exchange ideas with each other in an informal atmosphere. The group experience emphasizes that you are not alone with the disease.
The group meetings and classes offer:
- Reference to the stage of life in which the young contestant is
- The perception of the disease
- the spouse
- Friends
- concern for the future
- Flood of information
- Children
- Working
- sexuality and intimacy
- Deep in the closet
- Family
- self-similar
- Classes adapted to those with Parkinson's: physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, yoga, tai chi, dance, art therapy, Feldenkrais, choir and more...
- Expert lectures (doctor, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, home care services and more)
- Sharing experiences about life with Parkinson's disease.
- Social events: singing, holiday gatherings, customized trips for group members and more.
- An atmosphere of appreciation and recognition.
Organizing and subsidizing activities
The association places at the center the contestant's main need to maintain a daily activity routine. There are many and varied activities at the local level of the branch and other activities at the national level.
The group meetings and classes are held several times a week. Each branch is autonomous and determines its own program, according to the needs of the contestants.
The classes are subsidized by the association. Each member chooses the mix that suits him.
In addition, the parkinette system makes it possible to enjoy a training routine necessary for the competitor to maintain a healthy mind in a healthy body and provides access to live online physical activity classes on ZOOM at a minimum discount of 25% from market prices. Each class takes place once a week - on a fixed day and time. Click here for all the details about Parquet...
Changing the perception of the disease in the eyes of the contestants, their families, government institutions and the public.
Increasing awareness among the population, local authorities and the government of the needs of young Parkinson's contenders.
- Treatment in the Knesset regarding the needs of young contestants.
- Mobilizing resources from local authorities.
- Activity in the Ministry of Health to introduce new drugs into the drug basket and to increase the special treatment basket.
- Participation in an international activity.