MAY

general

membership

meeting

speaker:

Paul Markowitz

topic:

Top Things to Consider When

Touring a Senior Living

Community

See page 2 for speaker bio

Please include family members and

join us to learn what to look for when

searching for a retirement living

facility.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Monday, May 12, 2014

1:00 p.m.

MAY 2014

6370 LBJ Freeway

Suite 176

Dallas, TX 75240

(972) 620-7600

www.daps.us

speaker bio 2

non-event reminder 2

awareness celebration 3

legal planning 4

approved medicines for PD 5

memorials, honors, donations 5

group schedules 6-7

improve balance 7

calendar of events 8

INSIDE

University Park

United Methodist Church

4024 Caruth Blvd (at Preston)

Dallas, TX 75225

GRANDSON HONORS FORMER DAPS MEMBER

Many people donate to Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society (DAPS) to honor or memorialize a friend or loved one with Parkinson’s disease. Recently, the grandson of a former DAPS member, Beril Susman, donated money that he made through a very special endeavor. Zach Hite is 13 years old and recently became a Bar Mitzvah. As a student, he was required to do a mitzvah project, which is a charitable service project.

Zach made and sold paracord bracelets to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease. Paracord bracelets are made out of lightweight nylon rope woven together to form a pattern. Zach’s bracelets were made of black cord with a small piece of silver cord shaped into a ribbon to represent Parkinson’s disease. Sales from the bracelets raised $435, which Zach donated to DAPS.

In a letter to DAPS, Zach wrote, “Five years ago, my grandfather passed

away from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. I wanted to do something that would honor his memory…It is my hope that the money [raised from the sale of the bracelets] will help in the DAPS mission to aid those who are affected by PD.”

Following his diagnosis in 1990, Beril Susman attended exercise and speech classes offered by DAPS at both Preston

Hollow United Methodist Church and Custer Road United Methodist Church locations. He also served as a facilitator at both locations. His wife, Joyce, was active in the caregivers group. In 2006, Joyce joined the DAPS Board of Directors. Joyce Susman currently serves as Advisory Council liaison to the DAPS Board.

Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society has benefited those with Parkinson’s disease in our community for over 35 years. It is because of donations like those from Zach that DAPS continues to provide services at no charge to people with Parkinson’s and their families. DAPS wishes to thank Zach Hite for his generous donation and for raising awareness of Parkinson’s disease. He is an outstanding young man who has certainly honored his family in an exceptional way.

There’s still time to join the

6th Annual DAPS Non-Event

PAGE 2 · DAPS · MAY 2014

Dedicated to impacting and

improving the lives of those

affected by Parkinson’s disease

Executive Board

Cindy Weatherall, President

Larry Christensen, Vice President

Joyce Susman, Secretary and

Advisory Council Liaison

Diana Winkelmann, Treasurer

Board of Directors

Liza Farrow-Gillespie, J.D.

Ann Heidger

Sandi Pautler

Jim Struble

Chad Swank, Ph.D.

Medical Advisory Board

Shilpa Chitnis, MD, Ph.D.

Richard B. Dewey, Jr., M.D.

Richard L. Fulbright, Ph.D.

Dwight C. German, Ph.D.

Jorge A. Romero, M.D.

R. Malcolm Stewart, M.D.

Gary L. Tunell, M.D.

Newsletter

Jill Dominguez, Editor

The DAPS newsletter is published monthly

as an information guide only, and does not

serve as legal or medical advice. We

welcome your feedback, contributions or

requests. Please send to or contact:

Jill Dominguez

DAPS

6370 LBJ Frwy Ste 176

Dallas, TX 75240

Phone: 972-620-7600

jill@daps.us

www.daps.us · facebook.com/daps.us

All submissions must be received by the

first of the month preceding publication date

and are subject to editing.

Advisory Council

Sarah Atwood

Jean Blomquist

Shirley Hand

Charlene Noe

Barbara Taylor

MAY Speaker Bio:

Paul Markowitz

Paul is the owner and principal of Senior Living

Specialists. Paul founded Senior Living

Specialists as a result of his personal experience

finding a DFW Assisted Living Facility for his

Mom, Betty, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

disease at the young age of 59. The diagnosis

was unexpected, and Paul did not know where to

turn for help. There were no services available

that offered the passion and personal experience

that someone in his shoes needed. Following his

stressful and difficult experience, Paul decided he wanted to do something to

help other families in the community who were dealing with similar situations.

After touring many DFW senior living facilities, Senior Living Specialists

assisted its first family in May of 2009. Paul’s free service uses an extensive

questionnaire that provides help to families who are facing the stressful choice

of finding an appropriate long term senior living option such as Independent

Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing or Residential Care. In

addition, Paul assists families when they’re in need of finding an estate

planning / elder law attorney, financial planner, in home companion agency,

home health agency, specific type of doctor, movers and packers.

Paul earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Indiana University and

studied abroad in Florence, Italy. Before founding Senior Living Specialists,

Paul was a Strategy Consultant for four years. In that role, Paul worked on

mergers and acquisitions and business development cases on behalf of many

Fortune 500 companies located throughout the United States.

In his spare time, Paul enjoys spending time with his family, traveling with his

wife, playing golf and fly fishing. Paul has lived in Dallas for over 20 years and

is very active in the community. He often speaks about the challenges of caring

for a loved one and what families should look for when considering different

retirement living facilities.

You can help the Dallas

Area Parkinsonism

Society “hit one out of the

park” by making a tax-

deductible donation. Your

generosity enables

DAPS to continue

providing exercise,

speech & swallowing

therapy, family support,

and educational

programs at no charge.

Hitting Levels

Grand Slam....$20,000 +

Home Run…....$5,000 +

Triple………….$1,000 +

Double…….….…$500 +

Single……..…….$100 +

Bunt…………..…..$25 +

An anonymous

donor will match up to

$20,000

of contributions!

MAY 2014 · DAPS · PAGE 3

DAPS Celebrates

Parkinson’s Awareness Month

At our April luncheon, several volunteers were

awarded for years of service to DAPS in a variety of

capacities. All know personally how to help others

deal with Parkinson’s. Their insight & advice will

continue to be

valued.

Sarah Atwood • Jean Blomquist

Shirley Hand • Charlene Noe

Joyce Susman • Barbara Taylor

Also honored was

Fish City Grill / Half Shell Restaurants

We appreciate their ongoing support of DAPS

through the First Tuesday Benefit program.

Accepting the award was

Gje Greene-Wallace,

Fish Flaunter & Director of Marketing

at the corporate offices in Addison, TX.

PAGE 4 · DAPS · MAY 2014

Legal Planning for the Aging Process

At our February meeting, DAPS hosted wealth preservation

attorney Liza Farrow-Gillespie* of the Dallas law firm

Farrow-Gillespie & Heath, LLP. She opened her

presentation with an encouraging statistic: Hallmark sold

85,000 “Happy 100th Birthday!” cards in 2006, according to

the New York Times. This begs the question, “how long of

a retirement should you plan for?” In 2009, the Dallas

Morning News wrote that the centenarian crowd is the

fastest growing age segment, with the highest

concentrations in the US and Japan.

Liza’s expertise in elder law covers many topics including

legal, financial, medical, and emotional issues that may

arise throughout the aging process. She recommends four

basic steps to protect yourself and your loved ones:

Legal appointment of trusted persons

Long-term care insurance

Protection against scams

Investigation of government benefits

F irst and foremost is the legal appointment of a

trusted person(s). Statutory Durable Power of

Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, Advance

Directive to Physicians, and HIPPA Authorization are a

good start. Many forms can be found at the Texas Probate

website. To round out your legal appointments, be sure to

have a Declaration of Guardian in Advance of Need,

establish a joint checking account, and work with an

attorney to draw up a will, trust, or special needs trust.

If you own a business, you may want to consider

establishing a Family Limited Partnership. If you’re

already overwhelmed at step one, let’s take a look at

what it all means.

A Statutory Durable Power of Attorney is a powerful

document that, once signed by you, allows someone to

perform transactions on your behalf in matters concerning

real estate; personal property; stocks, bonds and other

financial instruments; business operations; legal affairs;

Social Security benefits; retirement income; and taxes.

You will have to decide whether this person will assume

power of attorney right away or when you become disabled

or incapacitated.

A Medical Power of Attorney appoints a ‘healthcare agent’

to make healthcare decisions on your behalf. This requires

HIPPA Authorization for access to medical records and

physician advice. The best way for your healthcare agent

to know your wishes in the event of a ‘terminal’ or

‘irreversible’ condition is to have an Advance Directive to

Physicians. A Declaration of Guardian in Advance of

Need allows you to choose the person you would want

to serve as your guardian should the need ever arise. This

document is also useful to disqualify someone from serving

as your guardian.

S econdly, try to obtain long-term care insurance.

This will help to protect retirement assets for the

surviving spouse. This insurance will provide long-

term care for a set number of years. Premiums are fixed at

the time of purchase so you will receive the best value if

you buy between the ages of 55 and 65.

T hird, protect yourself and your loved ones from

scams. 80 percent of today’s identity theft is from

dumpster diving, not the Internet. Shred all

documents containing your name, address, social security

number, and account numbers before placing them in your

garbage or recycling bins. Call 888-382-1222 to add your

home and cell phone numbers to the national “Do Not Call”

list. Never give your social security number, credit card

number, or other personally identifying information to

someone who calls or emails you. Get their phone number

and call them back to make sure they’re legitimate. Liza

mentioned that she had personal experience with LifeLock,

an identity theft protection company that she highly

recommends.

F ourth, know the laws that affect you. The Family

Medical Leave Act allows workers in companies

with 50 or more employees to take up to 12 weeks

of leave during any 12-month period because of a serious

health condition of the employee’s spouse, child, or parent.

You may also want to learn more about ADEA, the Age

Discrimination in Employment Act and ADA, the Americans

with Disabilities Act. Both of these acts protect older

workers from discriminatory workplace practices. In the

case of ADEA, “older workers” are people over the age

of 40.

In the event that you need to determine whether your loved

one has become incapacitated, you need to know the legal

definition. Taken from the Texas Estates Code, Liza

quotes, ‘An incapacitated adult is one who, because of a

physical or mental condition, is substantially unable to

provide food, clothing, or shelter for himself or herself, to

MAY 2014 · DAPS · PAGE 5

MEMORIALS · HONORS · DONATIONS

March 2014

In memory of Louis Edward Towell

From: Frank Ashmore

Patricia Barton

Kimberly Burrow

Capital Farm Credit

Farm Credit Bank of Texas

Gayle Fox

Amy Gully

Brenda Kellermeier

Leon Langley

Elizabeth McKool

Lindsey Orta

Margaret Reaves

Cindy Simmons

Karee Wiggins

In memory of Wilmer L. James

From: Terresia Williams

In memory of Lenore Harris

From: Harvey & Renee Schein

Donation to DAPS

From: Virginia Sillers

Joyce Susman

Angela Thomas

Thrivent Choice

care for the individual’s own physical health, or to manage

the individual’s own financial affairs.’ To determine whether

your loved one has become incapacitated, look for

problem signs at home, talk to neighbors about their

observations, and engage regularly in meaningful

conversations. Go beyond the basic “how are you”

questions. It can be a difficult time, but realize that

vulnerability to elder abuse increases with incapacity.

Your loved one may be a danger to themselves and others

while driving, and they may not be able to bring it up on

their own. When you have the above mentioned

documents and planning in place, you can enjoy peace of

mind that your loved one’s wishes will be met, and you can

concentrate on more important things, such as enjoying

each other’s company while you both strive to join the

“centenarians club.”

* Liza Farrow-Gillespie, J.D. currently serves on the DAPS

Board of Directors

Approved Medicines for

Parkinson’s Disease

Research into Parkinson’s disease has been difficult.

According to experts, several barriers to developing

therapies for Parkinson’s exist, including a lack of a clear

understanding about the biological processes leading to

cell death in Parkinson’s, inadequate translational

research, and a lack of a biomarker for determining

disease progression and severity.

In the last decade, five new medicines were approved to

treat the motor and non-motor symptoms associated with

Parkinson’s disease. These new medicines are important

for disease management and improved quality of life for

patients. Earlier this year, Northera™ (droxidopa) was

approved to treat orthostatic hypotension, a debilitating

drop in blood pressure when standing associated with

Parkinson’s disease.

In 2011, DaTscan™ (Ioflupane I 123 injection) was

approved as the first diagnostic imaging agent for

evaluation of neurodegenerative movement disorders,

specifically for helping differentiate between Parkinsonian

syndromes and essential tremor. DaTscan is a

radiopharmaceutical imaging agent that works by binding

to dopamine transporters (DaT) in the brain. Use of

DaTscan during single photon emission computed

tomography (SPECT) brain imaging produces images that

allows visualization of the presence of dopamine

transporters.

(Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America,

2014)

PAGE 6 · DAPS · MAY 2014

DAPS’ NO-CHARGE

Exercise, Speech, and Support Groups

CARROLLTON:

St. Andrews Christian Church

3945 N. Josey Lane

Group Exercise:

Wednesday...10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Speech Therapy:

Wednesday…11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

DALLAS:

Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation

909 N. Washington (214-820-9353)

Water Therapy: (nominal fee)

Wednesday...11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Finley Ewing Cardiovascular & Fitness Center, Studio 3

5721 Phoenix Drive (214-345-7074)

Dance for Movement Disorders:

Tuesday…2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Thursday...2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

1st Saturday...11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Lakeside Baptist Church

9150 Garland Rd.

Speech Therapy:

Wednesday...10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Group Exercise:

Wednesday...9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Partners-in-Care Group:

2nd Wednesday...10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (New time!)

Preston Hollow United Methodist Church

6315 Walnut Hill Lane

Speech Therapy:

Tuesday...11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Group Exercise:

Tuesday...10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Thursday...10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

MESQUITE:

Mesquite Rehabilitation Institute

1023 North Belt Line Rd.

Group Exercise:

Tuesday...10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

DUNCANVILLE:

Trinity United Methodist Church

1302 S. Clark Rd.

Speech Therapy:

Thursday...1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Group Exercise:

Monday...3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (New time!)

No class on last Monday of the month

Thursday...2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Support Meeting:

Last Monday...6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

GARLAND:

South Garland Baptist Church

1330 E. Centerville Rd.

Group Speech:

Thursday...9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Group Exercise:

Monday...10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Thursday...10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Discussion Group:

Monday...9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Partners-in-Care Group:

Thursday...10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

PLANO:

Custer Road United Methodist Church

6601 Custer Road

Speech Therapy:

Thursday...11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Group Exercise:

Monday...9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Thursday...9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Discussion Group:

Monday...10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Partners-in-Care Group:

Monday...9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

RICHARDSON:

Arapaho United Methodist Church

1400 W. Arapaho at Coit

Group Exercise:

Tuesday...10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Friday...10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

MAY 2014 · DAPS · PAGE 7

TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL DALLAS

Groups and Classes

The Movement Disorders Education and Resource Center at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas (THPHD)

(8200 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75231) offers the following. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Kathryn

MacDonell at 214-345-4224 or DallasMovementDisorders@TexasHealth.org.

SUPPORT GROUPS (Please note new times and locations.)

PD Patient Support Group

3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm in Room 111 at Texas Health Resources University (THRU).

Essential Tremor Support Group

2nd Wednesday of odd months at 1:00 pm in Room 111 at Texas Health Resources University (THRU).

Atypical Parkinson's Support Group (PSP/MSA/CBD)

3rd Saturday of each month at 10:00 am in Room 111 at Texas Health Resources University (THRU).

Care Partner Support Group

4th Monday of each month at 1:00 pm in the Red Room at Texas Health Resources University (THRU).

FITNESS CLASSES

Dance for Movement Disorders

Instructed by Misty Owens, MFA. Every Tuesday & Thursday 2-3:15 pm; every 1st Saturday 11:00 am-12:15pm in Studio

3 of the CVC* This class is co-sponsored by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and the Dallas Area Parkinsonism

Society (DAPS) and is offered free to individuals with movement disorders.

Water Exercise for Movement Disorders

In the pool at the CVC* every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11:15 am. (A physician release form and the purchase

of a CVC punch card are required. Please call for more information: 214-345-7074.)

Caregivers are welcome to attend any of these support groups and exercise classes.

*CVC = Finley Ewing Cardiovascular & Fitness Center, 5721 Phoenix Drive, across Greenville from Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas.

214-345-7074

Improve Balance and Prevent Falls

During the February general meeting, we were reminded of the importance of exercise

for people with Parkinson’s disease by physical therapists Staci Shearin, MPT &

Heather Hall, DPT. They emphasized exercises to improve balance and prevent falls.

The primary routine included leg and chest stretches, leg and core strengthening, and

basic cardiovascular exercises such as walking, recumbent bike, and even peddlers

that can be done while seated. In addition to exercise, it is necessary to get properly

fitting, flat-bottomed shoes. Even at home, it’s not a good idea to wear flip-flops, poor

fitting slippers, or socks only.

Aside from exercise, our speakers advised that attention be paid to the environmental

setup at home. Clear rugs, cords, and clutter from the floors. Pay special attention to

the bathroom, where grab bars, rubber mats, shower chairs, or an elevated commode may be helpful. Make sure the

home is well-lit, including night lights. Remember that carrying things while walking can increase the risk for falls.

Finally, be sure to visit the eye doctor yearly to catch any vision changes. Be aware of dizziness issues that are effected

by blood pressure, inner ear problems, and medication. Don’t hesitate to discuss assistive devices with your doctor. A

cane, walker, or forearm crutch may be helpful in preventing falls, even if only used at home.

If you’re already exercising, then keep up the good work! If you need to get started, then make sure to consult with your

doctor or physical therapist. Start by doing a little every day and build up gradually to longer periods of exercise. Research

suggests that exercise has greater effect the longer you do it. So get started and make it a life-long habit.

Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society

6370 LBJ Freeway, Suite 176

Dallas, Texas 75240

(972) 620-7600

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Dallas, TX

Permit No. 3255

RETURN SERVICE

REQUESTED

general membership meeting

Monday May 12 - 1:00 p.m.

Topic: Top Things to Consider when Touring

Senior Living Facilities

Presented by: Paul Markowitz, Founder—Senior

Living Specialists

open board meeting

Monday, May 19 - 1:00 p.m.

next month

Monday, June 16* - 1:00 p.m. (*Note: 3rd Monday)

Speaker: Dwight German, PhD

Topic: Update on research partially funded by DAPS

All General Membership and Board Meetings are held at University Park

United Methodist Church, 4024 Caruth Blvd., Dallas, TX 75225.

disclaimer: The contents or opinions expressed in this Newsletter

are those of the individual writers or presenters and do not constitute an

endorsement or approval by DAPS staff. Please consult your personal

physician regarding your individual medical problems.

Tom Thumb Good Neighbor Program

Link your Tom Thumb Rewards card to number 3071,

and a percentage of what you pay to Tom Thumb will be

donated to DAPS!

Kroger Cares Card

New Community Rewards Program!

The Kroger Cares Card Program has changed. You

must now link your card online to benefit DAPS.

Just go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com, sign up

or log in, and in your Account Summary, look for

Community Rewards. Click Edit, type in our

Organization number (80709), click the button next to

Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society, and click Save. Then

every time you show your Kroger Plus card at the register,

DAPS earns cash!

Thank you!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

For change of address or corrections, please indicate the changes on this page

and mail it to DAPS, or email: daps@daps.us