ONTARIO – The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging has announce the Richland County Parkinson Support Group has been selected as the 2020 Community Service Award recipient.
The group was honored on Wednesday at a ceremony hosted at Hawkins Corner.
“This is the 20th year the Area Agency has honored an organization from one of the nine counties we serve,” said Teresa Cook, VP of Administrative Services said. “As we all know COVID may have changed how we can get together but what hasn’t changed is the outstanding way individuals, groups and organizations are working together to support and take care of one another.”
On Wednesday, the agency celebrated outside while guests remained in their cars to observe physical distancing.
The Support Group encourages people to bring their caregivers and other family members to the meetings.
“We don’t want Parkinson’s to be a dreaded disease, but rather an opportunity to learn about the disease and be proactive in managing it because every day is a gift,” said Support Group leader Becky Roggio.
Exercise is like medication in helping with tremors and reducing rigidity. Guest speakers come to educate on Parkinson’s specific topics. This includes topics on new medications, clinical trials, or new treatment options, such as Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery. They want everyone to be actively involved in their treatment and want each person to feel supported.
Each year the Area Agency on Aging honors an organization, agency, service club, business, or media outlet that is making a difference in their communities on behalf of senior citizens.
There is only one award recipient selected from the Agency’s nine county service area (Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot. The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc., located at 2131 Park Avenue West in Ontario, provides leadership, collaboration, coordination and services to older adults, people with disabilities, their caregivers & resource networks that support individual choice, independence and dignity.
