Parkinson's Awareness Week taking place from 8 - 14 April 2024

Parkinson’s Awareness Week will take place from the 8th to the 14th of April 2024.

DFI Member Organisation Parkinson's Ireland will be holding an Online Education Conference on Saturday, the 13th of April at 2.00pm.

Conference Speakers 

Annmarie O’Connor will be the Virtual Educational Conference Chair. Annmarie is the Irish Examiner fashion editor, a podcaster and bestselling author.

She was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s Disease in 2021 and now uses her platform to spread awareness.

She won the Catalyst award at Irish Tatler’s Women of the Year 2023 and has been featured by the Irish Examiner as one of 100 Women in Ireland Blazing a Trail, 2023.

PD Nurse Specialist Kathy Foley will be giving a talk on the 40+ PD symptoms at the Virtual Education Conference on April 13th.

Kathy began her nursing journey in 2003, but found her true passion in nursing in 2009 when she was given the opportunity to train as a nurse specialist for one of the advanced therapies for Parkinson’s Disease.

Kathy spent 11 years working as nurse specialist in this area as part of a nationwide team before joining Parkinson’s Ireland in October 2023.

Professor Iracema Leroi will give a talk on Mind and Movement – unravelling the cognitive and emotional aspects of Parkinson’s. 

Iracema Leroi is a Professor in Geriatric Psychiatry and a consultant geriatric psychiatrist at St James’ Hospital, Dublin. She leads HRB-CTN Dementia Trials Ireland network, along with a 4-year HRB-funded program grant, EMERALD Lewy, which aims to improve the diagnosis and care for people with Ley body dementias.

She has a particular interest in the mental health aspects of Lewy body diseases.

Professor Graham Hughes is a consultant physician in geriatric and general medicine working in a Dublin teaching hospital. Graham is an Associate Professor in Clinical Medicine, UCD.

He has particular interests in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and integration of older people’s care across service interfaces.

Professor Hughes will give a PD Update during his talk at the conference. 

Dietician Richelle will discuss eating well to feel well with Parkinson’s.

Richelle is a CORU registered dietitian practising for over 18 years. She is an ambassador for the World Parkinson Congress and a committee member of the Dublin branch of the Parkinson’s Ireland.

She is particularly passionate about the unmet needs of women with PD. Richelle is co-founder of Women’s Parkinson’s project, a global platform to raise voices for better treatment and research for WWP.

Richelle is the co-founder and CEO of a start-up, My Moves Matter a digital health app to meet the specific needs of women living with PD.

Occupational Therapist Marion Slattery will discuss ‘Daily Health Habits: Small Tips for Big Changes’.

Marion graduated with a B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy from N.U.I. Galway.

She has a special interest in working with people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and is certified in the PD Warrior™ programme, which is a highly effective exercise programme aimed to slow down the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

Marion is also certified in the LSVT BIG, Parkinson’s specific programme. Marion works online with people all across the country, and in-person in Personal Health, Rathmines, Co. Dublin.

Marion is a current member of the Association of Occupational Therapist’s Ireland (AOTI) and registered with CORU.

Weekly Classes for members

Parkinson’s Ireland are proud to offer many services for members, including our nurse helpline service and weekly zoom classes which include singing, mindfulness, wellness, nurse clinic, yoga and physio.

You can find all the details of classes here.

ENDS