During the first annual Parkinson’s Bootcamp held from August 5 to 7, 2023, patients eager for assistance and their loved ones gathered at Powell Valley Healthcare to explore their therapeutic options.
The three-day bootcamp saw 10 participants from the Powell and Cody areas, supported by caregivers, joining forces with healthcare professionals to tackle various aspects of living with Parkinson’s disease.
This initiative combined the expertise of multiple disciplines, incorporating speech-language therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy to create one handy program for attendees.
Occupational therapist Kinsey Baxter noticed unexpected improvements among patients after just three three-hour sessions, claiming, “I think just seeing small improvements from being able to get up from chairs in three days and take bigger steps.”
The concept for the bootcamp emerged after Brittany Asay, a speech-language pathologist, read about similar programs at universities, which inspired her to bring the idea to their community.
According to her, “There was an article about a similar program at a university, and they called it Parkinson’s bootcamp,” highlighting the community's needs for such comprehensive support.
Recognizing the existing gap, Baxter mentioned how the bootcamp’s multi-faceted approach allowed for interventions like LSVT-BIG and SPEAK OUT! to help patients from different angles.
“If doctors are more concerned about movement, they’ll send [them] to us,” Baxter explained, emphasizing the program’s aim to expose patients to various therapeutic benefits.
The bootcamp’s daily sessions focused on different disciplines—Monday’s theme revolved around occupational therapy, Tuesday was dedicated to physical therapy, and Wednesday aimed at enhancing speech therapy skills.
Activities touched on fine motor, gross motor, and speech exercises, which Baxter believes brought therapeutic practices closer to the realities of daily life.
“I think the benefit is it gets us closer to everyday real life, like the functionality we experience at home and in the community versus just voice exercises,” said Baxter, reinforcing the program’s practical approach.
The bootcamp aimed to provide unique multi-disciplinary experiences by promoting activities like walking and talking simultaneously or participating in tasks such as cooking and chopping.
Baxter noted, “We hope they would benefit from this unique opportunity for multidisciplinary exercises,” highlighting the collaborative benefits of the program.
Throughout the camp, the participation of PVHC dietitian Tina Braet-Thomas contributed to the nutritious discussions, allowing patients to gain more insights about their health.
The team hopes to expand the bootcamp next year, welcoming even more professionals to provide well-rounded information for patients.
Baxter’s enthusiasm was evident as she stated, “It was cool because she was kind of like a guest speaker with even more knowledge about it.”
The first bootcamp turned out to be inspiring and educational, prompting excitement for what’s to come next year, as both Baxter and Assay were impressed with the results this time.
Those interested or with questions about their treatment options can seek referrals from their doctors to learn more about available services through North Platte PVHC.
This innovative program reaffirms the importance of combined therapeutic efforts to empower individuals battling the effects of Parkinson’s disease.
By offering accessible education and specialized support, the bootcamp demonstrates success as it builds momentum within the community for future healthcare initiatives.
Efforts like these not only provide valuable resources but also create hope for many living with Parkinson’s, fostering unity among patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.
The future looks bright as the community embraces such initiatives, demonstrating the positive impact of collaborative care for complex conditions.
