A Close Up Look At ……… PARKINSON THERAPY CENTER
In this issue of the RSVP Newsletter, we would like to highlight a very special partnering site –
The Parkinson Therapy Center in Smithtown. For 45 years, this not-for-profit organization, with quarters located at the Smithtown Methodist Church, has provided help and hope to Parkinson patients and families. In fact, it is the only physical therapy center on Long Island that caters exclusively to Parkinson’s and its particular problems.
This very upbeat center conducts an on-going program of exercise and physical therapy, specifically tailored to the needs of each individual patient and administered by a licensed physical therapist, professional registered nurse, speech pathologist and trained aides. Support group sessions are run monthly for both the patient and caregiver alike.
The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 9:15 to 11:15. A coffee break is included in each daily session during which a group discussion, seminar or guest speaker is presented. Volunteers are always needed for various tasks such as spotting clients while exercising, assisting with chair exercises, setting the table for coffee hour, and light clerical work. All that is necessary is a cheerful, compassionate disposition and the desire to work with people affected by Parkinson’s Disease. We hope you might consider joining their team. For more information, please call RSVP Coordinator Denise Passarelli at 631-979-9490, ext. 23.
Four wonderful Parkinson Volunteers: Claudia, Helene, Carol and Judy
The Results Are In!
1.
| Length of Volunteerism: |
Age |
| Under a year | 7% | 55-65 | 10% |
| 1-5 years | 35% | 66-75 | 36% |
| 5-10 years | 34% | 76-80 | 24% |
| 10-15 years | 13% | 81-90 | 25% |
| Over 15 years | 11% | Over 90 | 5% |
2.
| What aspects do you like the least? |
|
| No complaints/blank/NA: | 61% |
| Location/Food at Luncheon: | 3% |
| Other/ “bossy” volunteer: | 3% |
| Can’t volunteer as much as I’d Like: | 8% |
| Can’t help everyone at site: | 16% |
| Not enough sites out East: | 7% |
| Too many speakers at Tribute Day: | 2% |
3.
| If you didn’t go to the luncheon, why not? |
|
| Not invited: (render 40 hrs./year): | 11% |
| New to program: | 5% |
| Too long to drive: | 5% |
| Food/Dancing too much/loud: | 2% |
4.
| Interested in Volunteering more? |
|
| Yes: (Great! Please call us!) | 31% |
| No: | 45% |
| Maybe: (Think about it; call us!) | 24% |
5.
| What aspects of RSVP do you like? |
|
| Giving back/interacting/staff: | 53% |
| Lots of ops/newsletter/auto ins. | 15% |
| Luncheon/my placement/kids: | 22% |
| Volunteering helps me: | 10% |
6.
| Do you enjoy your placement? |
|
| Yes: | 94% |
| No: (Then why are you there???) | 2% |
| Somewhat: (Life’s too short; call us.) | 4% |
7.
| Have you been to Tribute Day? |
|
| Yes: | 70% |
| No: | 22% |
| Left blank: | 8% |
8.
| Is the RSVP Staff responsive/respectful? |
|
| Yes: | 92% |
| No: | 1% |
| Not too much contact: | 7% |
8.
| Do you enjoy the Newsletter? |
|
| Yes: | 91% |
| No: | 2% |
Suggestions:
Personal interest stories: | 7% |
