The WHO declared April 11th, 1997 as World Parkinson’s Day, coinciding with the anniversary of the birth of the doctor who named this disease.

This disease known as Parkinson’s disease is frequently classified as a movement disorder, which triggers alterations in cognitive function, in the expression of emotions and in autonomic function.

It is a brain disorder that leads to agitation, tremors, and difficulty in walking, movement, and coordination. The disease was described and documented in 1817 by the British physician James Parkinson and the associated biochemical changes were identified in the 1960s.

In recent times this degenerative disease has caused the death of a large number of people, even from an early age.

With this concern and attending to the great utility of providing the necessary information and establishing actions for the benefit of the population’s quality of life, also reaffirming the humanitarian nature of the work of Carlos J. Finlay, his birthplace on the proposal of the elderly, belonging to the institution’s Tai Chi group, Serapio Escobar Rodríguez, affected by the disease, began on April 12th, 2012 a first meeting with the doctors of the provincial hospital Manuel Ascunce Domenech Rigoberto Betancourt Napoles and Suset Brito García, specialists in Neurology .

A difficult experience at the beginning because the Health Department does not have this population identified, where the support of the radio was crucial, as well as the rest of the participants in the projects of the Finlay House, who were in charge of locating them and adding them to the initiative.

Our project

Learning to live with Parkinson’s is an activity aimed at patients suffering from the disease, family members, caregivers and all those interested in knowing the characteristics and treatment of this disease.

The project is presented as a beneficial space that offers the possibility of creating new affective bonds from individual experiences with a common interest. It reaffirms the willpower to face a disease that can cause depression and bring down the strongest.

Frequencies

Every second Thursday of the month, at 10:00 am, the meeting is directed and advised by the specialists in Neurology of reference of the Manuel Ascunce Domenech Provincial Hospital, who add up to a multidisciplinary team made up of: neurosurgeons, rehabilitators, nutritionists, psychiatrists, psychologists, among others specialties that demonstrate how to make this pathology more bearable.

A chance to love

Space where the exchange of experiences, motivation and where doubts and concerns of the listeners are answered, also stimulating the socialization of these patients.

The action includes a musical moment with appropriate talent and they share the characteristic tisane of the House.

They also exchange with the participants of the other projects of the Finlay Birthplace on dates such as the international day of the family, many have joined the tai chi group at the suggestion of neurologists demonstrating positive results.

Learning to live with Parkinson’s disease is an inclusion project that welcomes all who wish to join.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García