Support Resources for PD
Those with Parkinson's disease (PD), caregivers, family, and friends are in need of support. Support comes in a variety of forms including:
- participating in an online support group or a scheduled video-based support group for those with PD or caregivers
- participating in an educational webinar on PD or PD caregiving
- reading summaries of PD webinars or caregiving webinars. We offer two mailing lists -- "Stanford PD Info" and "PD Caregivers." Join our mailing lists here.
- knowing how others are coping with PD. Read some of our favorite PD blogs and listen to some of our favorite PD podcasts.
- exercising with online videos or taking a live, online PD exercise class
Receive support -- and offer support -- today!
Northern and Central California Support
If you live in Northern or Central California, the Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach program has additional support resources, including lists of:
- in-person PD exercise classes
- fall prevention classes (most are in-person)
- PD support groups. (some are in-person, some virtual)
Five Stanford-run support groups meet virtually and are for those in either the local area or in Northern/Central California. Sign up to be added to the meeting reminder email list. If you live in the Palo Alto area, our group meets monthly, usually with a local guest speaker. If you have young onset PD and live on the Peninsula, our group meets monthly. Our men's group (for those with PD who live on the Peninsula) meets twice a month. Our DBS support group meets quarterly. And, we offer a Spanish-language PD group for anyone in Northern or Central California.
- PD caregiver-only support groups. (some are in-person, some virtual)
Stanford coordinates six caregiver-only support groups, most of which meet monthly. The Belmont, Los Altos, and Menlo Park groups meet in-person. The Daly City group is virtual only and meets twice a month. And, we offer an adult-child caregiver group for anyone in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Contact us if you can't find what you need from our website!
Northern California Referral Services
For those living in Northern and Central California, the Stanford APDA Information & Referral Center provides referrals to:
- neurologists who are movement disorder specialists or general neurologists (if no movement disorder specialists in your area)
- speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists
- social workers/therapists/counselors and other healthcare professionals
Contact us for information and referrals if you live in Northern or Central California!
Live outside Northern California? The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) funds about 20 information and referral centers in the US at major university medical centers and hospitals. Find an APDA I&R Center near you.