Valeria Gary on LinkedIn: I’m delighted to share that our proposal, “Posture Power: Elevating Motor… (2024)

Be my colleague!! We have a great department and work for a company with excellent perks and benefits.

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I'm preparing for this month's Wellstar Parkinson's support group meeting, which will be about creating our life stories. If you aren't familiar with it, a life story is a personalized account of your life’s adventures, memories, and significant moments. It’s a way to capture the essence of who you are and what you’ve experienced, whether through written words, photos, videos, or other cherished mementos. Life stories allow our stories to outlive us and can benefit communication and memory as we age. This will be a new experience for me, and I look forward to it.Have you documented your life story?PD Life Support Group meets the second Monday of each month at 6:00 pm on the Kennestone campus—DM for details.

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I'm excited to announce that I am expanding access to one of my favorite community-based presentations for a limited time. The presentation"Reducing the Risk of Cognitive Decline: Lifestyle Choices That Make a Difference" has consistently received favorable feedback. It is free for nonprofits, active senior communities, and continuing care communities.Program Details:Duration: 45 minutesCost: Free of charge for the communities listed above. Inquire about prices for other groups.Format: Virtual for groups of 5 or more;in-person option for groups of 10 or more (Cobb and Fulton County, GA areas)About Ageless Grace:I will showcase an Ageless Grace exercise demo as part of the presentation. This unique brain health program uses fun, creative exercises to stimulate both the body and mind, enhancing neuroplasticity and overall well-being.Scan the QR code for more information or to sign up. Or use this link: https://lnkd.in/eAtZzKYdLet's take a step towards a healthier future together!

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For this week's Speech and Cognitive Wellness class that I lead for the Center for Movement Challenges, we will focus on the importance of sleep. How much quality sleep do you typically get? Quality sleep is important for reducing the risk of cognitive decline.(June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, so I'm adding more brain health information to my class.) After our speech and voice exercises, we will read some sleep-related facts from Precision Nutrition and share strategies for better sleep. As a certified Sleep, Stress Management, and Recovery Coach, I have many tools and resources to help people improve their sleep hygiene. While neurological conditions can make getting quality sleep more challenging, there are things people can do to optimize sleep.What will you do this month to support better brain health? Remember, each small action you take can make a significant difference. Whether it's avoiding screens for a period of time before sleep or adjusting the room temperature, making changes matters. Here is some information about sleep: https://lnkd.in/df2fjS-Y

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June is Alzheimer'sand Brain Awareness MonthReducing the risk of dementia through lifestyle choices is one of my favorite things to discuss. Since June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, it's the perfect time to infuse even more brain health information in my weekly Speech and Cognitive Wellness class that I lead for the Center for Movement Challenges. This week's class will focus on nutrition. Are you familiar with the MIND diet? MIND stands forThe Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. Focusing on vegetables, healthy proteins, healthy oils, and berries, this way of eating has been scientifically proven to support better brain health. For more information: https://lnkd.in/eBvAmBeJAfter we do our voice exercises, we will name some foods that are encouraged on the MIND diet (with full, strong voices!) and discuss ways to prepare them in a fun verbal fluency task. What will you do this month to support better brain health? Remember, each small action you take, whether it's incorporating more brain-boosting foods into your diet or engaging in physical activity, can make a significant difference. Let's take this opportunity to be proactive in our brain health journey, knowing that even the smallest steps can lead to significant improvements.

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There's a neuro-loving OT out there that would be an excellent fit for our outpatient clinic. Please look at the attached post, and if you want to know more, click the link or DM me. I can't wait to collaborate with you!

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My road to implementation: Whenever I read a paper, the first question that comes to my mind is, "How will this information impact my clinical practice?" Continuing the conversation about the Baylor et al., 2024 paper, here is my thought process on how I can use the information from the paper to provide better services for my patients and their loved ones. Theme 1: "We have to pick up the slack."-The earlier we get people into therapy, the more likely they will have the cognitive abilities to implement strategies without family assistance. -Home is a safe space where the PwPD can relax and not perform. We need to reconcile this with the family's need for efficient communication.-We can provide support after discharge for the complaint that therapy's benefits are lost due to a lack of follow-up. We have a fantastic care partner support group, and our BIG and LOUD for Life classes are starting back up.-Families report that communication is stressful, especially as intelligibility continues to decline. I can be more proactive about compensatory strategies and AAC. -"I feel like I'm nagging." This is a tough one. Many of our PwPD don't have the divided attention or self-regulation to utilize their communication strategies without reminders. Theme 2: "Communication is more than just speech."-Memory impairments result in repeated questions and forgetting how to do household tasks.- I can be more proactive about providing strategies for memory impairments.-Familiar people who are patient and understanding make it easier for both the patient and the family. Consider scripting to educate others about the PwPD's communication needs or communication cards like we use for people with aphasia. -Family members feel caught in the middle. This is another tricky one because knowing when to be proactive and when to let go is so individual. Families report avoiding social engagements. Social interaction is vital for all of us as we age, so support groups can benefit both the patient and the care partners.-Family members with hearing impairments: Consider all forms of amplification.Theme 3: "When there's a communication problem, say think loud, say speak loud." -We have new billing codes for family education. This can be an excellent opportunity to address the fact that families feel that SLPs focus only on the patient. -Intervention changes as the disease progresses- People will likely need more information as the disease progresses. Families need ongoing support after the program's conclusion. During treatment, I have learned to ask PwPD and their care partners, "What do you know? What do you want to know?"I would love to hear how others process and work through information so that implementing research findings in the real world doesn't take years.The paper: https://lnkd.in/eSTP6Q4a#parkinsonsdisease#carepartner #caregiver#slp

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A recent edition of the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology contains a fascinating paper providing insights into what family members really want from SLPs. As a practicing clinician and mentor for the Medical SLP Collective, I try to stay as up-to-date as possible. This paper revealed to me where I need to change my practices.The findings were presented in themes:Theme 1: "We have to pick up the slack." When family members are responsible for managing the communication for their PwPD, they can feel burdened. They often feel like they are nagging their loved one and are getting little benefit from constantly monitoring and implementing communication strategies. Family members want to maintain healthy relationships with their PwPD but feel they cannot do so when they are put in the position of having to be "the deliverer of everything."Theme 2: "Communication is more than just the speech." Communication challenges go beyond intelligibility, yet they often feel that intelligibility is the only thing they are trained to help with. Cognitive changes have a significant impact and are underaddressed by SLPs. Theme 3: "When there's a communication problem, say think loud, say speak loud." Family members reported a wide range of support (or lack thereof) from the SLPs treating their PwPD. Family members found generic handouts with communication tips less beneficial than connecting with peers. Family members appreciate being invited even when they choose not to participate in support groups. They want SLPs to remember that their need for support and services will change as their PwPD progresses through the disease process. Next week, I will discuss how these findings may look in a clinical setting. I'd love to hear how you provide what care partners want and need.https://lnkd.in/eSTP6Q4a

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Are you attending GSHA? Hope to see you Friday at:10:30 for “Risk Reduction in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Rehabilitation and Wellness Services” and 11:30 for “Evidence and Application of Posture-Based Intervention for Medical SLPs.”The posture presentation is a collaboration between to physical therapists and me. We will be doing demonstrations and hands-on training on posture correction.

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