Southampton, NY—Stony Brook Southampton Hospital has introduced its new Center for Parkinson Disease, an extensive and integrated community-based wellness program. The Center’s mission is to provide information and support as well as cultural and fitness programming to enrich the lives of individuals living with Parkinson Disease.
The Center draws on the resources and expertise of Meeting House Lane Medical Practice, providing access to state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, as well as specialized rehabilitation services at the Hospital. Services include physical, occupational and speech therapies administered by highly-skilled and experienced therapists with certifications in vestibular/balance rehabilitation, LSVT Big, and LSVT Loud. These services are covered by Medicare/Medicaid and many private insurance providers, but a prescription from a patient’s primary physician may be necessary. To schedule a physical, occupational or speech therapy appointment, patients should call the Hospital’s Rehabilitation Department at (631) 726-8520.
Relationships with community collaborators have broadened the scope of the program to bring evidence-based wellness services at no charge to communities throughout the East End. Offered through the Hospital’s Ed & Phyllis Davis Wellness Institute, patients can participate in a therapeutic chorus, painting at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, yoga, tai chi, dance classes, and boxing classes through the Rock Steady Boxing program. For program locations and schedules, and to register, patients should call the Wellness Institute at (631) 726-8800. Medical clearance from a patient’s primary physician may be required for fitness classes.
“Research suggests that being active, and staying active, is an important antidote for the diverse symptoms experienced by people with Parkinson Disease,” says Sarah Cohen, PT, DPT, a Physical Therapist at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital who manages the Center’s wellness program. “It is overwhelmingly acknowledged that regular exercise may slow deterioration of function, and might even slow disease progression. Despite the importance of exercise, not enough people exercise regularly, due in part to limited resources and access to appropriate programs.
“Stony Brook Southampton Hospital’s Center for Parkinson Disease aims to bridge that gap by providing a diverse array of fitness classes to the East End community,” continues Ms. Cohen. “The wellness classes are evidence-based and designed so that all participants–regardless of functional level–can find a safe and beneficial entry point to challenge physical fitness, while developing important social and community connections.”
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