If you have Parkinson's there’s no need to be alone. If you need help, advice and support, or just someone to talk to, we are here for you.

We understand how distressing it can be; from diagnosis to coping with drug treatment and trying complementary therapies.

Whether you’re a Person with Parkinson’s, carer, relative, or just a friend,
the Fareham & District PDS Branch offers a warm welcome.

Coffee Mornings
Our social get-together is on the first Monday of the month from 10am to midday in the Crofton Community Centre at Stubbington.  All are welcome.  We offer a hot drink and biscuit, raffle, bring-and-buy stall.  There is also a table full of useful literature and information.

Activities Mornings
These are on the 3rd Monday of the month, from 10am to midday, also at the Crofton Community Centre.  This is your chance to try Kurling, have a go at some craft work like making greetings cards, improve your handwriting, learn to play whist etc.  We also offer a toenail cutting service (for which there is a small charge) and some gentle neck & shoulder shiatsu massage (fully clothed).

Linda Shaw, the Parkinson's Specialist Nurse, is on hand for questions.

We are very pleased to announce we now have a carer’s group up and running, and would like to invite anyone who hasn’t yet come along to join us at 10.30am in room 1 at Crofton Community Centre on activities morning.

Attending this group will offer the opportunity for you to talk freely of your situation and gain the support from both group facilitators Sue & Margaret and the other group members.

Should you have some concerns about leaving your loved one with others in the big hall with their coffee, or at home on their own, please give Sue Thompson a call on 0844 225 3759, she will endeavour to help solve or support in this situation.

We run gentle exercise workout sessions twice per month on a Tuesday afternoon and Tai Chi sessions on Tuesday mornings.  We have monthly ten-pin bowling sessions in the alley at Newgate Lane and other occasional outings.

Hydrotherapy sessions are held at Whiteley on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.  Most of these sessions are subsidised.  All members are welcome to participate.  We also organise respite breaks for those who need it, and can help provide aids required for a better standard of day-to-day living.

THAT FLOATING FEELING
My experience with hydrotherapy – by Joan Lewry

We all know that exercise is good for the body as well as the soul.  But, as all of you will appreciate, Parkinson’s means having to live with extreme difficulty of movement as well as a lack of co-ordination and balance.  That, together with a fear of falling, means that exercise on dry land is not such an attractive and achievable proposition for those with Parkinson’s.  So, when the opportunity came along to try hydrotherapy, I was intrigued.

Certainly, I had heard good things about hydrotherapy and the benefits exercise in water can provide.  In essence, the buoyancy of the water supports the body so that weak muscles and aching limbs can be moved easily while the resistance of the water can be used for exercise routines to strengthen muscles.  Also, just being in the warm water relaxes the mind and body while soothing away the aches and pains that we are all so familiar with.  It’s exercise with no danger of falling – you’ll just get wet.

I was apprehensive about the first hydrotherapy sessions as I was never that good a swimmer and have always been a little afraid of water.  But, as I found out, no one should be afraid of taking the plunge.

You are at all times in the capable hands of trained physiotherapists and trained assistants who do a wonderful job of calming the nerves and guiding you into the water.  Yes, I did get a bit stuck first time I went down the steps but, with Helen and Catherine’s help and unwavering patience, I was soon in the warm chest-high water and already relaxing.  Being in the water was just so liberating – with a wonderful sense of weightlessness, like soaring like a bird.  For the first time in years I was able to move easily and exercise for 20 minutes on my own feet – out of water I can only stand for two to three minutes at most.

After the first session, I emerged tired but triumphant.  As I had exercised muscles that hadn’t been used in a long time, I did ache for a few days after the first session, but it was a good ache.  The effects seemed to be instant – everyone I saw in the days after said I was looking more alert, upright and happy.  Without a doubt I felt I had more energy.

My regular hydrotherapy sessions are something I really look forward to now.  I’m now so much more comfortable in the pool and am able to float as if on a cloud and totally relax.  This little bit of freedom from gravity has had just as much a positive effect on me mentally as it has physically.  Every time I get into the water I feel like a little bird jumping from the restrictions of its nest and experiencing freedom for the first time.

Hydrotherapy certainly seems to be working for me.  I have so much more movement than I had before and movement is easier.  I can now get out of a chair by myself and look over my shoulder.  My legs ache less.  I feel more upright and alert.  I’m also feeling more positive about things and get a great sense of achievement from the hydrotherapy sessions.  I’m gaining confidence all the time and, little by little, achieving more and more.  I’m now not at all scared of the water and we’re doing more challenging exercises and movements.

Everyone at the hydrotherapy sessions encourages one another.  This fantastic and supportive atmosphere makes the sessions just as much a social occasion as great exercise.  And, the positive effects on everyone are plain to see.

Fundraising
Our aim is that all our meetings, activities and 'health' sessions should be free, or as cheap as we can possibly make it, to members.  In order to do this we ask members to give an hour or so of their time when we have collecting days outside supermarkets on about half a dozen days throughout the year.  In just 4 days of collecting this year we have raised over £1,800 which goes a long way towards paying our bills.  We also ask you to support our raffles and bring-and-buy stalls as much as you can.

THANK YOU TO ALISON CHATWOOD WHO RAISED £510 FOR US RECENTLY

Alison and her husband Glenn presenting the cheque to the committe

Alison's Dad Bill with Alison and Glenn

Alison writes: "I decided to try and raise some money for the local Parkinson's group when I came along to one of the coffee mornings that the group hold, I came along to the group with my dad who was diagnosed with Parkinsons's about 7 years ago but has suffered for around 10 years."
 
"Meeting all the wonderful people was amazing, and made my dad feel really at home. After speaking to a few of the commitee members I was dumbfounded that the group don't actually get much help financially and rely a lot fundraising and people wanting to help and donate. So I decided to organise something to help."

"I thought I would organise a table top sale with a large raffle on the side to raise a few pennies for the group. So with the help of family, friends and local companies we managed to raise £510."

  "We had a bric a brac stall, tombolas, guess the weight of the cake/bear and my dad made from scratch a dolls house which was also raffled off. We also had stalls from Body Shop, Avon, jewellry stall and even Ann Summers who donated money and prizes.
 

"I really hope this money has helped the group in some small way and if you need any further help please let me know!"