OUR CONDOLENCESOur deepest Condolences to the families of:• MrReggieMyintThein,whoservedatthePSSBoardsincethefounding
ofthesociety,holdingpositionsasVice-President,HonorarySecretaryandHonoryTreasureruntil2011.
• MrMichaelFungCheeEng
JUNE 2014 / MICA(P) 130/04/2014
Parkinson News
PARKINSON SOCIETY SINGAPORE (PSS)UENS96SS0203J
Blk191BishanStreet13#01-415Singapore570191Tel:63535338Email:[email protected]
BEA AND CHRISTOPHER VON MITSCHKE-COLLAND CongratulationstoChrisandBeaontheirblissfulunion.PSSappreciatestheirgestureofencouragingtheirgueststodonatetoacharityoftheirchoice.Agenerousdonationof$900wascollectedfromtheguestsofthecouple.
PSS BOARDFollowingtheAnnualGeneralMeetingheldon
17May2014,theBoardMembersareasfollows:
PRESIDENTMsJulieLau
VICE-PRESIDENTMrMarcusLam
SECRETARYA/ProfLouisTan
TREASURERMsChristineKang
ASSISTANT TREASURERMrCharlesFoo
COMMITTEE MEMBERSProfTanEngKingA/ProfAuWingLokDrTanSiokBeeMsNeoLayTinMsTheresaGoh
MrHungKwangHouMrMelvynChiang
DrDawnTanMsAlisaTan
DrPrakashKumarDrTayKayYaw
MsLiWei
Tomakeadonationtousbypost,pleasemailyourchequeto:Parkinson Society SingaporeBlk 191 Bishan Street 13, #01-415, Singapore 570191
Alldonations$50andaboveareentitledtotaxdeductions.Kindlyincludefullname,NRICNo.andcontactnumberonreversesideofcheque.
LEND A HELPING HAND!PSS is totally dependent on donations for its work. We can only continue supporting individuals affected by Parkinson with your help. Consider making a donation in memory of or in honour of someone you love.
1DONATE ONLINE
VIA SG GIVES
www.sggives.org
2DONATE ONLINE
VIA GIVEASIA
www.giveasia.org
3DONATE BY
CHEQUE / POST
Cheques made payable to “PARKINSON
SOCIETY SINGAPORE”
WAYS YOU CAN DONATE:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BeyondjustfindingoutmoreaboutParkinson,hearingthe
personalstoriesfromMrPangandJasonwasveryinspiring.Weallfacepersonalchallengesinourlives,andthereisreallynopointincomparingwhoseareeasierorworse.Whatmattersishowwefaceuptothempersonallyandcontinuetopersevere.
MR LIM YU KEE, Principal
Thoughlifemaybeshortandunpredictable,itisimportantto
cherishwhatyouhaveandkeeponfightingagainsttheodds.Liveeverydayasthoughitisthelast.
MR LOH KEE SENGSec 3 Year Head
Putting values in action, 28 members of the Bedok Green Secondary School (BGSS) Management Team decided to pay a visit to Parkinson Society Singapore on 5 May 2014, to find out more about Parkinson and have a better understanding of the condition. In line with their belief in “Walking the Talk”, the Team wanted to do their part to support and contribute to the society and make life better and meaningful for the people around them. The participants shared their thoughts after the Learning Journey:
BEDOK GREEN SEC SCHOOL VISITS PSS
Whatanenrichingexperiencelearningabout
ParkinsonandhearingfromtheParkinsonWarriors!Theyhavesuchdeterminationtonotallowoneselfsinkandinsteadfocusonmakinganimpactonothers.
ThesharingbyCentreManagerElisebroughtmoreawarenessofParkinsonandmademerealisethattherewerepeopleIknowwhomaynothavetheirconditiondiagnosed.Parkinsonseemedtobepartandparcelofgrowingoldbutthatmaynotbethecase.
ThesharingsbyPeoplewithParkinson(PwP)andtheircarersshowedhowdifficultParkinsoncanbe.
MDM SALENAH, Sec 2 Year Head
IaminspiredbytheoptimismandstrongwillofthePwP,whowanttolivelifetothefullest.Iamalsohumbledbytheirloveforlifeandeffortstofightandmakeeachdaymeaningfulforthemselves.Sometimeswhenlifedoesn’tputusdown,wedon’tseetheneedtofightforapurposefullife.Iamthankfulfortheirsharings.
MISS ANNABELLA SEOH, Subject Head, Humanities
IhavelearntagreatdealaboutParkinsonfromthecentreandalsothroughthefirsthandaccountsfromthePwP.MrPang’spositivityandselflessnesstohelptheotherpatientswasheart-warming.
AverycandidandtouchingsharingbyJasonandhiswifehadshowntherealchallengesfacedbyPwP.Thisvisitwasreallyaneye-openerforme.
MDM SITI FATIMAH, Subject Head, Nutrition & Food Science
‘LIKE’ US ON FACEBOOK...GET PSS UPDATES AND USEFUL INFORMATION FOR COPING WITH PARKINSON. SIMPLY SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW:
MrOhKengSeng,59,wasdiagnosedwithParkinsonsome14yearsago.Withtheadvancementofhisdisease,heunderwent
DeepBrainStimulation(DBS)surgeryin2008,andalsohadapercutaneousendoscopicgastrostomy(PEG)tubeinsertedin2012tooptimizehisnutritionalstatus.
MrOh’sfull-timecaregiverishiseldestsister,MsOhBeeLow.AsabeneficiaryoftheParkinsonSocietySingapore(PSS)PatientWelfareFund(PWF),heregularlyattendsPhysiotherapyclasses,aswellas
ChineseCalligraphyandTaiChiclassesatTheParkinsonCentre.Healsolooksforwardtootheractivitieswhereheandhiscaregivercansocializewithothersinthesamesituation,suchasoutingstoplacesofinterest,liketheSEAAquariumandtheRiverSafari.
MrOhisjustoneoftheover6,000PeoplewithParkinson(PwP)inSingapore.Currently,PSShasamembershipof600.Therearemanymoreouttherewhoneedsupportandhelpbutaretooshy,
toodepressed,toosickorphysicallyunabletoseekassistance.PSSstrivestoprovideaholisticsupporttothePwP,andjourneytogetherwiththem.Parkinsonhasnocure,nordoesitdiscriminate-men,womenandpeopleasyoungas40areafflicted.
“TeetoBeatParkinson”isPSS’inauguralCharityGolfandDinnerthatwillbeheldonFriday,10October2014attheJurongCountryClub.Wehopetoraise$350,000tofundthreeinitiatives:
Establishment of Satellite Parkinson Therapy Programmes in St Luke’s Eldercare CentresAprojectapprovedwith80%fundingsupportfromtheToteBoardCommunityHealthcareFundadministeredbytheAgencyforIntegratedCare(AIC).ThiswillbringtheessentialPhysiotherapyandOccupationalTherapiestoselectedStLuke’sEldercareCentres,nearertothePwP.
“TEE TO BEAT PARKINSON” CHARITY GOLF & DINNER 2014 (10 OCTOBER AT JURONG COUNTRY CLUB)
“Move to Beat Parkinson” – a signature event to raise awareness of ParkinsonTheinauguraleventwassuccessfullyheldon28June2014,withaturnoutof300people,consistingofPwPandtheirfamilymembers,caregivers,volunteersandstaffofPSS.ItwasadayofempowermentandinspirationasPwPperformedandshowcasedtheirworks.Theterm“ParkinsonWarriors”referringtothePwPwassoappropriateaseveryonesupportsandfightsagainstParkinson.Patient Welfare FundPSSexiststoestablishasocialandcommunitynetworkfortheParkinsoncommunity.OurmembershipandcoursefeesarekeptlowsothatallintheParkinsoncommunitymayparticipate.Nonetheless,therewillstillbefamiliesforwhomsuchfeesareaburden.ToenablethesePwPtoalsoenjoythesupportandhelp,aPatientWelfareFundwassetuptodefraymembershipandcoursefeesandtoprovidefinancialassistancewhereneeded.
SilentAuctionswillbeheldatthe“TeetoBeatParkinson”CharityDinner.Amongtheauctionitemswillbethreecopiesofthebook“ALifeInPictures”,autographedbyformerMinisterMentorLeeKuanYew,eachpricedat$30,000onwards.
Youcanalsosupportusbysponsoringoneormoreofthefollowingfortheevent.Alldonationsreceivedwillqualifyfor2.5timestax-deductionfortheamountdonated.• GolfFlights&Dinnerat$50K(Platinum),$10K(Gold),or
$5K(Silver)• DinnerTable(10Pax)@$3K• OutrightDonations• Gifts/Servicessponsorship
YourkindcontributionwillgoalongwaytokeeptheParkinsonCentrerunningfortheParkinsonCommunity.Emailusatfundraising@parkinson.org.sgorcall63535338tofindoutmore.
From Left: MrMelvynChiang,ProfTanEngKing,MsAlisaTan,MsChristineKang,MsJulieLau,MsLiWei,MsTheresaGoh,MsNeoLayTin,A/ProfLouisTan,MrMarcusLamBoard members not in the photo:MrCharlesFoo,A/ProfAuWingLok,DrTanSiokBee,MrHungKwangHou,DrDawnTan,DrPrakashKumar,DrTayKayYaw
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Mr Oh Keng Seng, 59, one of 600 members with PSS.
ComeandlearnasJoanneChua,SeniorClinicalPsychologistattheDepartmentofPsychologicalMedicine,NationalUniversityHospital),givesthistalk,targettedatEnglish-speakingPwPsand/ortheircaregivers.
Raising Awareness of Parkinson with Art
ThetulipisoftenassociatedwithParkinsonawareness.ThespecialconnectionbetweentheflowerandParkinsonwasformedthroughared
tulipwhichDutchhorticulturalist,J.W.S.VanderWereldcreated.AsapersonlivingwithParkinson,VanderWereldwantedtohonourDrJamesParkinson–thefirstpersonwhodescribedParkinson.Thus,henamedhisnewcreationafterthedoctor.Since1980,thetuliphasbeenadoptedandusedwidelyaroundtheworldasasymbolforParkinson.
Buildingonthisunderstandingofthetulip,ourcreativeclaytrainersarecallingPSSmembers,caregivers,volunteersandmembersofthecommunityatlargetocometogethertobeapartofanupcomingcollaborativeartproject.Participantswillbeguidedtocreatetheir‘tulips’,whichwillformapartofalargerpieceofwork.Nopreviousexperienceofartisrequiredtoparticipate.
ComejointhisfunandmeaningfuleventthatnotonlyallowsyoutoexpressyoursupportforpeoplelivingwithParkinsonbutalsobeinvolvedinraisingpublicawarenessofParkinson.
FIRST RUN: Aug 13, 20, 27SECOND RUN: Sep 3, 10, 17
Time: 1.30pm - 3pmFee: S$15 per pax, per runCall 6353 5338 to enquire or register.
Michael Tan is a visual artist, an art educator and advocate for art and health development in Singapore. He has previously conducted art programs in various care setting such as Creative Clay workshop for Parkinson support group at SGH and Parkinson Society Singapore (PSS). His most recent project examines the benefits of an art program to residents in a Nursing home. He currently teaches full-time at the School of Art, Design and Media in Nanyang Technological University.
PARKINSON SUPPORT GROUP CALENDAR 2014At Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)
Information correct at the time of printing.
The way to better communication lies in practising your voice BY BETTY WONG
Thewellknownmotivationalspeaker,AnthonyRobbins,oncesaid“Thewaywecommunicatewithothersandwithourselvesultimately
determinesthequalityofourlives”.Asaspeechtherapistwhoseesindividualswithcommunicationdifficultieseveryday,Icanonlyunderstandafractionofthefrustrationandhelplessnesswhenoneisrobbedoftheabilitytocommunicateeffectively.
Often,peoplewithParkinson(PwP)arenotawarethatspeechcanbeaffectedinanystageofthedisease.Parkinsonnotonlyaffectsmusclesrequiredforbodymovementbutalsoimpactsonthefacialandneckmuscles’abilitytoachievepreciseanddesiredmovement.Asthesemusclemovementsarethebasisofcommunication,PwPmayexperiencespeechdifficulties.Commondifficultiesincludehavingasoftvolumeofvoice,imprecisearticulationofwords,suddenslownessand/orrushesinsegmentsofspeechandmonotonousspeech.ThoughthesecanbeaddressedeffectivelythroughatherapytechniqueknownastheLee-SilvermanVoiceTechnique(LSVT),fewaremadeawareofthisandoftenseekhelpwhenitistoolate.TheLSVTisbasedonasetoftasksfocusingonvoiceprojectionforexamplevocalizing‘ah’foraslongandasloudaspossible,singingupscale,readingasetofphrasesandpracticeconversinginaloudandclearvoice.LSVThasproventobeeffectivethroughextensiveresearchinthelast15years.ManyindividualswithParkinsonwhohavegonethroughintensivespeechtherapyandmaintainconsistenthometherapyprogram,
haveshowngoodoutcomesinmaintainingspeechdespitetheprogressivenatureofthedisease.
Manyatime,atmySpeechTherapyParkinsonClinic,individualscomeinonlywhentheyhaveseveredifficultiesincommunicating,oftencomplicatedbymemoryandcognitiondifficultiesduetoco-morbiditieslikedementia.
Whencommunicationbecomesanarduoustask,individualswithParkinsonmayshutthemselvesfromtheirsocialcircleandfamilymembers.ThiscreatesaviciouscyclewherebyindividualswithParkinsoncommunicateless,resultinginfewerchancestopracticetheirspeech,therebyworseningtheirspeechabilitiesovertime.Hence,itisimportanttogetearlydiagnosisandappropriateintervention,notonlymedically,butalsospeechrehabilitationtoremediatecommunicationdifficulties.
Donotbethebookthatcannotbejudgedbyitscoverduetoyourcommunicationdifficulties!Seekhelpactivelyandstartusingyourvoicemore,becauseeverywordthatyouarespeakingisapracticeforyourspeech.
Usefultipsforbettercommunication:• Requesttobeinaquieterenvironmentwhenyou
needtotalkaboutsomethingimportant• Sitfacetofacewithyourlistener• Sitasuprightaspossibleforbetterbreathingwhich
supportsgoodspeech• Takeslow,deepbreathsinbeforeyouspeak• Imaginehavingtospeakacrossadistancesuch
thatyouuseyourstrongestvoice.THINKLOUD,SPEAKLOUD!
Betty Wong is a Senior Speech Therapist from Changi General Hospital. She specializes in assessment and treatment of speech and swallowing difficulties in individuals with Parkinson as well as in Geriatric care. She is a certified LSVT-trained speech therapist and runs Speech Therapy Parkinson clinic at CGH.
Dates: Sep20orOct18(Saturdays)Time: 9am-12pmFees: $10(PSSMembers);or $20(Non-PSSMembers)Venue: TheParkinsonCentre
Limitedseatsonly.Pre-registrationwithpaymentisrequired.
Register [email protected]
withsubjecttitle:“LifeinBalance”withyournameandcontacttel,togetherwithcreditcard(Visa/Mastercardonly)detailsincluding16-digitcreditcardnumberandexpirydate;or
2.CometotheParkinsonCentrepersonallyandmakepaymentbycash/cheque/creditcard(Visa/Mastercardonly).
3.Telephone63535338forfurtherassistance.
Sessions held at TTSH will be held at the Neuroscience Clinic (Level 1); call 63577138 or 97842810.
at TTSH
Thursday, 10 July2:30pm-4:30pm
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) (Mandarin)byDrVincentNg
Consultant
Thursday, 14 August2:30pm-4:30pm
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) (English)byAssociateProfessorNgWaiHoe
SeniorConsultant
Thursday, 11 September2:30pm-4:30pm
Mood & Psychological Problems in Parkinson Disease (English)
byAssociateProfessorAuWingLokSeniorConsultant
Sessions at SGH will be held at the Medical Student Centre (Block 1 Level 3); contact Nurse Usanee at 9295 3331 or email [email protected].
at SGH
Monday, 7 July11:00am-1:00pmUnderstanding Your
Parkinson Disease MedicationsbyPharmacist
Monday, 4 August11:00am-1:00pm
Non-Motor Symptoms andManagement for Parkinson Disease
byDrPrakashKumarSeniorConsultantNeurologist
Monday, 1 September 11:00am-1:00pmLeisure for People
with Parkinson’s DiseasebyOccupationalTherapist
EmotionalFreedomTechniqueorEFTisanamazinghealingtechniquethat’seasytolearnandhasprofoundeffects.EFTisameridianbasedtherapywithawiderangeofapplications.
Thisquickandeasytolearnskillconnectsmind,bodyandemotionsviathebody’senergysystem.EFTcanpotentiallyprovideeffectiverelieffromstress,anxiety,painandsuffering,distressingthoughts,disturbingmemories,andlimitingbeliefs.Keepyourmindandheartopen,andallowyourselftobehealedwithYOUasyourownhealer!
About the Speaker: Dr Tan Siok Bee is an advanced practice nurse and has been a nurse in Singapore General Hospital for the past 30 years. She is a graduate from the University of Sydney and National University Singapore. She obtained her PhD from The Melbourne University and her research focus was on coping and well-being of caregivers of people with Parkinson. She has a special interest in hypnotherapy and is a Certified Hypnotherapist from the National Guild of Hypnotist (NGH), the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association (IMDHA) and the International Association of Counsellors and Therapists (IACT).
Life in Balance – through Meridian Tappings
Talk on the Enhancement of psychological-emotional well-being of People with Parkinson and their caregivers
Date: Sep12,2014(Friday)Time: 11amto12.30pmVenue: NUHMainBuildingRehabilitationCentre, Level1,GroupTherapyRoomFees: Free-of-charge
Toregister,[email protected]
