Parkinson’s Disease Resources

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurologic condition that affects many areas of one’s life. For this reason, Orange Coast Medical Center is pleased to offer patient and carepartner support groups, exercises classes, physical therapy, speech therapy, and multiple treatment options.

Support Groups: Orange Coast Medical Center offers multiple support group.

• Parkinson’s Disease Support Groups - Provides patients and their families with education on Parkinson’s disease and time to share and learn with fellow members of the Parkinson’s community.
• Carepartner Support Group - Provides caregivers the opportunity to obtain a better understanding of Parkinson’s disease, learn tools for providing support, communicating with loved ones, and taking better care of themselves. 
• Young Onset Parkinson’s Support Group - The Young Onset Parkinson’s Support Group offers those who are newly diagnosed and under the age of 60 with education and a time to share and learn with others who have this unique diagnosis.

Exercise Classes: 

• Parkinson’s Exercise Class - Steps Forward - Orange Coast Medical Center offers complimentary Parkinson's exercise classes for patients and their carepartners/ family members. Benefits of exercise specific for people with Parkinson’s disease include: enhanced quality of life, easier mobility with day-to-day tasks, increased flexibility of the muscles, improved motion of the joints, decreased stiffness, and better posture and movements.

Physical Therapy:

• Parkinson's Wellness Recovery (PWR!) - Orange Coast Medical Center’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Department offers evidence-based, clinically proven, physical therapy by licensed therapists certified in the Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR!) program. Patients who have participated in our Outpatient Rehabilitation program may attend these complimentary maintenance/progression classes. For more information, please call (714) 378-5022.

Speech Therapy:

• SPEAK OUT!® followed by The LOUD Crowd® - Orange Coast Medical Center is pleased to offer a two-part speech therapy program to help people with Parkinson's regain and maintain effective communication. SPEAK OUT!® places emphasis on speaking with intent and converting speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. Together, patients and their speech-language pathologist work through a series of speech, voice, and cognitive exercises. Upon completion of SPEAK OUT!®, patients transition to The LOUD Crowd®. This complimentary maintenance program consists of weekly group sessions led by a speech-language pathologist. Group members provide support, encouragement, and accountability to one another. For more information about SPEAK OUT!® and The LOUD Crowd® or to schedule a speech evaluation, please call (714) 378-5022.

Leading Treatment Options: 

• MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) - A minimally invasive procedure to alleviate tremor associated with Essential Tremor and Tremor-Dominant Parkinson’s disease. MRgFUS uses ultrasound waves to create a small lesion in the thalamus to interrupt irregular electrical signals that cause hand tremors. During the procedure, an MRI is used to obtain detailed images of the patient’s brain anatomy to guide and control the treatment, allowing the neurosurgeon to pinpoint, direct and continuously monitor the treatment area while not affecting the surrounding healthy tissue of the brain. Results are immediate and research shows they last for at least 5 years. For more information, please call (714) 378-5022.
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) - may be an effective treatment option for patients with movements disorders. It works by delivering electrical stimulation to targeted areas in the brain that control movement to block the abnormal nerve signals that are causing the essential tremor. Before the electrodes are placed, the patient receives an MRI and CT scan to pinpoint the precise area where the abnormal nerve signals are in the brain.