More than 1200 South Australians living with Parkinson’s have had greater access to specialised healthcare thanks to our dedicated specialist nursing team.
Since January 2023, 1225 people from across SA have benefitted from one-on-one consultations with the Parkinson’s nursing team, including 452 people living in regional parts of the state.
In 2022, the State Government committed $2.5 million in funding to The Hospital Research Foundation Group to employ a team of five Parkinson’s Nurse Specialists in a bid to address a critical gap in care for people living with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions.
Parkinson’s Nurse and Health Line Lead, Brianna Press said the team has been invaluable in helping support people living with Parkinson’s and their families.
“The symptoms of Parkinson’s are complex and affect people in different ways. By improving access to specialised one-on-one Parkinson’s care, people feel better equipped to manage their condition which boosts overall quality of life,” she said.
“Regional areas have been one of the biggest winners from this service and our Parkinson’s nurses love helping regional clients in all corners of the state.”
The team meets with a client either at their home, aged care facility, in hospital or at The Hospital Research Foundation Group – Parkinson’s office at Unley, where they conduct a holistic assessment to identify areas of concern and develop a care plan.
Nursing support includes education about Parkinson’s, what treatments are available, managing symptoms, health and wellbeing counselling, family and carer support, and more.
This has helped boost quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s through specialised advice and hospital avoidance, and helped close the gap for clients based regionally.
The service is free and has an open referral system, meaning you can refer yourself! Click here to find out more or call our support line on 1800 644 189.
