Health & Fitness
WELLNESS
THE PARK
LIVING
Family Ties
Jewish Family Service hosts
Parkinson's support group.
Robyn Gorell
Special to the Jewish News
B
ob Berlow of West Bloomfield
feels himself very fortunate
— his Parkinson's disease
symptoms haven't worsened and he
stays active and productive.
Berlow is 62 and
an attorney, of coun-
sel for Taubman,
Nadis & Neuman PC,
in Farmington Hills.
He was diagnosed
with the neurode-
generative disease in
2001 after consulting
Bob Berlow
a doctor about what
he thought was a pulled tendon.
Several other symptoms also had
bothered Berlow sporadically. The
doctor suspected Parkinson's, ordered
an MRI and made an appointment for
Berlow with a local neurologist. The
diagnosis was confirmed. Nowadays,
Berlow receives regular treatment
through the University of Michigan
Health System.
Helping Hands
Recently, the Michigan Parkinson
Foundation (MPF) started a new,
monthly support group for individu-
als with Parkinson's disease and their
care partners. The meetings are held
at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of the
month at Jewish Family Service (JFS)
in West Bloomfield.
Berlow, a member of the MPF Board
of Directors, had recognized that a
support group was needed in a Jewish
environment. JFS donated the meeting
room and the services of group facili-
tator Erella Reichman, MSW, to help
get things started.
The response has been tremendous,
says Berlow, and all are welcome.
Attendees interact with peers and
learn valuable information and skills
from guest speakers, including physi-
cians, speech and occupational thera-
pists, or discuss topics of interest.
Says Berlow, "MPF support
groups play a vital role in connect-
ing Parkinson's patients, families
and other care partners. Many
people in the public don't realize
that Parkinson's affects not just the
patients, but impacts their families
as well. The West Bloomfield support
group already is making a difference
in attendees' quality of life."
Parkinson's disease belongs to a
group of conditions called motor
system disorders. The basic problem
in Parkinson's disease is loss of dopa-
mine-producing nerve cells in the
substantia nigra pars compacta area
of the brain. Parkinson's patients lose
more of these cells than other people.
Parkinson's is recognized by the
presence of at least three of four
cardinal signs: tremor or trembling
in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face;
rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and
trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of
movement; and postural instability, or
impaired balance and coordination.
Worsening Symptoms
As symptoms become more pro-
nounced, patients may have difficulty
walking, talking or completing simple
tasks. Additional symptoms may
include depression and other emo-
tional changes; difficulty in swallow-
ing, chewing and speaking; urinary
problems or constipation; skin prob-
Family Ties on page 30
Michigan Parkinson Foundation
• 30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150, Bingham Farms, MI 48025
(248) 433-1011, (800) 852-9781, www.parkinsonsmi.org
• West Bloomfield Support Group, 7 p.m., first Wednesday of the month
Jewish Family Service, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322
• MPF services: living with Parkinson's disease orientation, information,
education, referrals, access to community resources, support groups,
training for health professionals, second-opinion clinics in areas of
Michigan underrepresented by neurologists, social activities.
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January 7 • 2010
IN
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