Powerful Resources for People with Parkinson’s
Use this list of regularly updated resources below, from book recommendations to physical therapy services.
Connect with PCLA’s Referral Specialist.
All resources
Every Victory Counts: Essential Information & Inspiration for a Lifetime of Wellness with Parkinson’s
Book by Monique Giroux, MD & Sierra Farris, PA-C, MPAS. Free from the Davis Phinney Foundation: Care partner version also available.
Parkinson's Disease For Dummies
Book by Michele Tagliati, MD; Gary Guten, MD, MA; and Jo Horne, MA. More recent edition 2022.
A Prescription for Action: Ending Parkinson’s Disease
Ray Dorsey, MD; Tedd Shere, PhD; Michael S.Okun, MD; Bastiaan R Bloem, MD, PhD. Published May 2020.
Living with Parkinson's Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients and Caregivers
Book by Michael S. Okun, MD; Irene Malaty (Author), Wissam Deeb (Author). Published April 2020.
Brain Support Network
Healthiest Indoor Exercises for People With Parkinson's
A comprehensive listing of in-home options for Parkinson's exercises (both live classes and pre-recorded options), including cardio, strength, dance, boxing, spinning, yoga, and tai chi.
Boxing for Balance
Boxing for Balance offers non-contact boxing and movement classes for people with Parkinson’s, with Rock Steady Boxing programs in Santa Monica, Lake Balboa, Woodland Hills, and Thousand Oaks. Additional offerings include a paid online workout program, private training, assisted-living classes, and a free monthly Parkinson’s support group on Zoom.
Rock Steady Boxing
There are several Rock Steady Boxing programs in the greater Los Angeles area, including Burbank, Calabasas, Encino, Monrovia, Pacific Palisades, and Simi Valley. If you are outside of the Los Angeles area, use their find a class tool to find classes near you.
Beat Based Movement
Beat Based Movement is an exercise and movement class, located in Venice, that incorporates percussion and boxing. This program is specifically designed for the PD community.
Neuroboxing
Neuroboxing offers boxing, spin, HIIT classes, plates, and yoga classes. Some are online and some are in person.
Neuro-Wellness Alliance
Neuro-Wellness Alliance offers in-person boxing classes in Woodland Hills, CA, as well as online boxing and spinning classes.
Dancing Through Parkinson’s
Dancing Through Parkinson’s offers donation-based weekly dance classes in Venice and in Tarzana.
Lineage Performing Arts Center
Lineage Performing Arts Center in Pasadena offers free dance, voice and music, and acting classes for people with PD and other neurological challenges.
Ziya 'Z' Altug, PT, DPT, MS, DipACLM, OCS, CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy with over two decades of clinical experience. Combines the best of lifestyle medicine, health coaching, physical therapy and integrative wellness to help individuals move better and feel better.
Ping Pong for Good
Ping Pong For Good offers in-person (West Los Angeles) and virtual ping pong classes, specifically geared toward the Parkinson's community. This 75-minute circuit-style classes Include a full-body warm-up and a series of drills on and off the table.
All Trails
You can search for hiking and walking trails near you using the All Trails website or app. You can filter trails by difficulty, accessibility, and more, and you can read user reviews of trails.
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Aging and Sleep Study
Learn about the relationship between age and sleep to understand what’s normal, and what’s not.
American Parkinson Disease Association
Davis Phinney Foundation
Brain Grant Foundation
Stories from Living with Parkinson’s
There’s a lot of living left to do for people with Parkinson’s Disease. This film breaks down the important ON/OFF periods between when medications are most and least effective – through the lens of patients themselves.
More to Parkinson’s®
More to Parkinson’s® is a disease awareness campaign that aims to break the stigma surrounding PD-related hallucinations and delusions and foster open dialogue among people living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones before symptoms start or at the first sign so they may speak up to their doctor.
SPEAK OUT! Individual and Group Therapy
The SPEAK OUT!® therapy program, developed by the nonprofit organization, Parkinson Voice Project, helps people with Parkinson's and related disorders REGAIN and RETAIN their speech and swallowing. Parkinson Voice Project is collaborating with Cal State LA to make its program accessible to every American by not charging for SPEAK OUT! Therapy.
LSVT Global
Find local therapists and speech language pathologists trained in the LSVT LOUD program - specifically for people with PD - on their site.
Parkinson Voice Project
Find local therapists and speech language pathologists via their online search tool.
Voice Speech Center
The Voice Speech Center specializes in Voice, Speech & Language Development, Fluency, and Swallowing therapy for children and adults.
SPEAK OUT! class from Cal State Northridge
Contact the CSUN Language, Speech and Hearing Center at (818) 677-2856
SoCal Speech Therapy & Swallowing Diagnostics
Rehab Specialists
The Balance Lab - Beverly Hills
Balance and Vestibular Physical Therapy Center
Rehab Specialists
Adventist Health Glendale
Progressive Physical Therapy
Balance Disorders Institute of Los Angeles
Re+Active Physical Therapy
Studio Brava Physical Therapy & Wellness
Progressive Physical Therapy
Arroyo Physical Therapy
Bodyscape Integrative Physical Therapy
InCourage Physical Therapy
The Balance Lab - Beverly Hills
Rehab Specialists
Santa Monica Physical Therapy
NeuroSport Physical Therapy
Progressive Physical Therapy
Re+Active Physical Therapy
Progressive Physical Therapy
Andrew J. Petkus, PhD
Clinical Psychology, Psychology , Neurology
Training for All Ages
Certified personal trainer Jonathan Rose specializes in working with people with Parkinson's (among other populations); does offer in-home fitness training (he covers a fairly large area)
Lori Michiel Fitness
Lori Michiel Fitness has a team of trainers who work with people with Parkinson's. They offer in-person and Zoom sessions and cover much of Los Angeles County.
Parkinson's Wellness Recovery (PWR!)
PWR! maintains a searchable listing of professionals - therapists and fitness instructors - who have been certified in their PWR!Moves program for people with Parkinson's.
SmartXPD
Personal trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist Patrick LoSasso specializes in working with people with Parkinson's, and has worked with the community for many years. He offers online group classes and individual training. (Patrick also serves as the President of PCLA's board of directors).
Marina Athletic Club
Provides specialized fitness and wellness services for older adults, with a strong focus on helping people maintain independence and physical ability as they age, especially those with Parkinson's Disease.
Acute Rehabilitation at Southern California Hospital Culver City
The Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) at Southern California Hospital Culver City offers a more intense program of rehabilitation therapy and nursing after hospital discharge in order to return people living with Parkinson’s to the highest level of independence possible.
Right At Home
At Right at Home, we pride ourselves on delivering compassionate, reliable, and professional care to seniors and individuals with disabilities in the comfort of their own homes. Our highly trained and experienced caregivers are committed to meeting each client's unique needs while promoting independence and enhancing their overall quality of life.
Warm Line
The Warm Line provides accessible mental health support via phone and web chat to anyone in need. Some concerns callers share are challenges with interpersonal relationships, anxiety, pain, depression, finances, alcohol/drug use, etc.
Familiar Treasures
Therapeutic music for memory care, healing, and peace.
Music in Medicine
Pianist Tony Arant plays for patients and speaks about serving as a music practitioner in Baylor University Medical Center’s (Dallas, TX) Arts in Medicine program.
Music Mends Minds
Music Mends Minds creates musical support groups for individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and other neurological disorders.
Every Victory Counts Manual, for Care Partners
Order a free copy online or call (866) 358-0285
You, Your Loved One, and Parkinson’s Disease: Advice from Lonnie Ali and the Michael J. Fox Foundation
USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
The USC Family Caregiver Support Center offers a wealth of resources for family caregivers, including caregiver education, tips, support groups, and more.
National Caregiver Action Network
The National Caregiver Action Network offers online forums for caregiver support and a Family Caregiver Toolbox.
The Caregiver Space
The Caregiver Space is an active community offering personal stories, articles of interest, an email newsletter, and more.
Family Caregiver Alliance
The Family Caregiver Alliance offers resources, including an online community and virtual caregiver support groups.
Los Angeles County’s Family Caregiver Support Program
Los Angeles County’s Family Caregiver Support Program provides support to family caregivers who qualify.
CJ & Associates Care Consulting
Services provided: geriatric case manager. Services are private pay, billed on an hourly basis. Some long-term care insurance policies cover care management services; refer to your policy to see if care management is a covered benefit.
Cars2Charities
PCLA is now active in the Cars2Charities program! Cars2Charities accepts cars for donation, sells them at auction, then donates the proceeds to your charity of choice, in this case, PCLA! Visit PCLA’s Cars2Charities webpage for more information and to get started.
Nursing Home Abuse Center
The organization’s primary focus it to assist those who have experienced nursing home abuse by creating a one-stop shop of information, offering a toll-free number with live medical experts, and helping connect victims to support groups and resources in their communities.
Bet Tzedek’s Leaving a Legacy Program - Estate Planning
Bet Tzedek’s Leaving a Legacy Program is an elder justice initiative seeking to connect older and dependent adults with estate planning tools. Estate planning (sometimes referred to as life planning) is vital to supporting autonomy, securing homeownership, protecting assets, and building disaster resilience. Access to estate (life) planning empowers an individual to shape their legacy and create a pathway to intergenerational wealth.
Dolce Therapies
Individualized, evidence-based speech, voice, and communication therapy tailored to each client’s specific needs.
Speak Steady Voice Reset with Jessica Ackerman
Program packaged as a simple guided video platform, accessible to anyone, anywhere.
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