Parkinson’s support group director hopes to attract more members

Watch above: a Parkinson’s support group is looking for ways to attract more members

SASKATOON – The director of a Parkinson’s disease support group in Saskatoon wants to see more new members join their monthly meetings.

Randy Dittmar has led the group for five years and said he is struggling to establish a strategy for driving more Parkinson’s patients towards the support group.

“We know there’s a lot more people that don’t know about the support group and that’s who we’re trying to get a hold of,” said Dittmar, who also has Parkinson’s.

When he does get a hold of possible members, there can be other issues. Some with Parkinson’s don’t wish to see others who are in a more advanced stage of the disease, he said.

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Larry and Lynne Fowke said they’ve come to treasure the monthly meetings.

Lynne said the couple we’re not knowledgeable about the disease when Larry was diagnosed two years ago. They called the Parkinson’s Society of Saskatchewan and were directed to the group.

“It’s a community, you feel safe, you can say, ‘I am angry, I am sad,’ or ‘I am happy,’ and not be judged,” said Lynne.

“They’re very supportive, you can bring your problems and they’ll listen and pat you on the back and send you away happier,” added Larry.

The Parkinson’s Society runs 13 support groups in 12 different Saskatchewan communities, including Humboldt, Spiritwood and Tisdale.

The support group is primarily directed at those battling the disease, said Dittmar, however many of the members care givers attend the meetings and benefit.

“One of my favourite times is when we split into ‘parkies’ and caregivers and then you can share authentically,” said Sylvia Shepherd, whose husband has the disease.

“We laugh and we cry and we learn together,” she added.

Sylvia’s husband, Lynn Shepherd, said that he’s encouraged others at Parkinson’s-related fitness classes, to attend one of the support group meetings.

“On a number of occasions we’ve run into new people, particularly at the exercises class and said, ‘you must come out to the support group,’” he said.