Our regular support group meetings are the first Wednesday of each month, 10:30 – 12:30. We are grateful to now be back at the Fort Collins Senior Center! And for now, we are streaming the presentation portion of these monthly meetings on Zoom – details are in our newsletter.
Events in February–April 2025
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February Support - Family Caregiver Support Program - Zoom only! February Support - Family Caregiver Support Program - Zoom only!
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February 5, 2025
Zoom only this month! The Senior Center is undergoing renovations.
Larimer County Office on Aging
The Family Caregiver Support Program is part of The Larimer County Office on Aging (LCOA) which is the Area Agency on Aging for Larimer County. The LCOA serves adults 60 and beyond, adults living with a disability, and caregivers. LCOA plays a unique role not only to provide direct services and fund community partners, but to innovate and advocate to meet the growing needs of the community.
During this presentation you will specifically learn about some of the services provided by the Family Caregiver Support Program including our Respite and Grand Family Respite Vouchers, Caregiver Consultations, and free Evidenced-based classes (Stress Busting and Powerful Tools for Caregivers).
Dani Martin: I have worked with older adults for 8 years with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation. I spent 4 years as an Activity Director at a nursing home and the last 4 years in this role at the Office on Aging. I have experience working with kids and adults with intellectual disabilities as well as older adults with chronic illnesses. I am a Colorado native and enjoy spending my free time with my husband, 11 month old son and our chocolate lab, Jax!
Mark Sleeter: I have been a professional Social Worker for 29 years and hold a Clinical License in Social Work (LCSW). I have worked in various settings including mental health, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice. Prior to joining the Office on Aging I worked for 10 years as a Medical Social Worker in hospice, serving those in the community that had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I also served as a Bereavement Counselor providing individual and group grief counseling. On a personal note, I was a family caregiver to my father-in-law who passed away last year.
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March Support Meeting: Communication and Swallowing in Parkinson’s Disease March Support Meeting: Communication and Swallowing in Parkinson’s Disease
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March 5, 2025
Prairie Sage Rooms 2&3
Michelle Underhill, MA, CCC-SLP
Northern Colorado Therapy ServicesIndividuals living with Parkinson’s Disease often have questions and concerns about symptoms that are associated with PD. This interactive presentation will provide an overview of adult “Speech Therapy” for Parkinson’s, PD-related communication and swallowing issues, and practical “Action Steps” to address those concerns.
About Michelle Underhill:
Michelle Underhill is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of adults living with Parkinson’s Disease. Michelle and her husband, Jason, founded a small multidisciplinary private practice specializing in Parkinson’s in Fort Collins in 2015. She served for five years as the Director of the Parkinson’s Support Group in Larimer County and is a Contributing Author for multiple editions of the Davis Phinney Foundation Every Victory Counts Manuals.
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April Support Meeting: Speech Language Pathology April Support Meeting: Speech Language Pathology
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April 2, 2025
Prairie Sage Rooms 2&3
Cognition for Communication in Parkinson's: The Role of Speech Language Pathology
Individuals living with Parkinson disease may experience cognitive changes to attention, memory, and language. Speech language pathologists are equipped to provide assessment and treatment for these changes when they impact communication. This talk will review potential cognitive changes that may impact communication, strategies to support satisfying communication, and pathways for comprehensive cognitive assessment. Following this talk, attendees will be able to identify potential topics to discuss with their own healthcare providers.
About Zoe Kriegel
Zoe Kriegel is an assistant professor in the Division of Communication Disorders at the University of Wyoming. Her research centers on understanding the impacts of Parkinson disease on communication to inform more accurate diagnosis and individualized treatments for communication problems. As a certified speech language pathologist, Dr. Kriegel has worked clinically with individuals across the lifespan in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
HARDY Parkinson’s Support Group
Targeted for Highly Active, Recently Diagnosed or Young-Onset People with Parkinson’s. This group meets at 6:00pm in the Community Room at the Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525
Get the latest info at: https://hardyparkinsons.wordpress.com
HARDY Parkinson’s group meets every 4-6 weeks. Watch your inbox for meeting dates. For further information, email: paul.french.parkinsons@gmail.com
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a program that has been offered since 2008 in Larimer County and there are now hundreds of ‘graduates’. Caregivers meet for six weeks for 2 hours per week and learn how to:
- Identify and find ways to reduce stress
- Improve self-confidence in coping with caregiving demands
- Ways to communicate difficult emotions
- Find community resources
Thank you to our generous supporters!
Thad Pawlikowski
