Visit
to Support Group in Pembroke
On
16 October 2003, staff from the Parkinson
Society Ottawa office visited the Pembroke
Support Group to help celebrate the
Society’s 25th
anniversary. Visitors were warmly
welcomed by Will Walker, initiator, backbone
and member of the group, and Brian Adam, the
social worker hired to facilitate the group.
The
group introduced themselves to their
visitors one at a time, and openly shared
some of their concerns and difficulties.
It was very clear that the primary caregiver
is most often the spouse of the person with
Parkinson’s, and that they need supportive
people surrounding them too. The
Ottawa visitors were moved by the courage
people showed in speaking out, and the
support they provided to each
other.
 |
Brian,
as facilitator, had a good rapport
with members of the group and
succeeded in helping them feel at
ease.
He
certainly encouraged a smooth
transition from serious discussion
to sharing the 25th
anniversary cake. |
As
the snack was being served, smaller groups
formed and the sharing continued. That
is the essence of the support group.
What
is a Support Group?
| A
support group is an informal
gathering of people who share
similar situations or problems
through: |
|
- group
discussions
- sharing
experiences, practical tips and
advice on living with
Parkinson’s
- learning
about Parkinson’s, its
challenges and treatment
- information
and educational sessions by
guest speakers
- sharing
a cup of tea or coffee
|
 |
Why
Have a Support Group?
Each
person who attends a support group will have
a different tale to tell, and there are
probably as many reasons for attending as
there are participants in the group. Support
groups may:
- enable
a positive transition from one stage of
life to another
- give
an opportunity to share feelings and
hear about the experiences of others
- help
participants to understand and to be
understood by others in similar
circumstances
- encourage
the growth of knowledge
- help
participants to discover new ways of
handling symptoms and challenges through
the experience of others, and through
professional resources
- offer
a renewed sense of hope in dealing with
changes to one’s lifestyle
- provide
an opportunity to make new friends
- help
participants deal with feelings of being
alone with one’s difficulties
 |
