Cheryl Levinson, Family Alliance’s Director of Strategic Advancement, announces, “Through the generous funding of the National Parkinson Foundation, Family Alliance will soon be offering the ‘We Feel the Beat,’ a music therapy program for persons with Parkinson’s disease.” Four groups will meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Family Alliance’s new Farm Hill Road location. The planned beginning date is Monday, September 22. The two sessions will meet from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. on each of the two Mondays. Because there will be a limited enrollment of 10 Parkinson residents in each session with no fee charged, early registration is advised.
To register, please contact Cheryl Levinson at 815-338-3590 or Alan Mogilner, Support Group Facilitator, at 847-659-1556. Specify which time you prefer.
Facilitated by Brenda Buchanan, music therapist, the program’s goals are as follow: 1. To help the individual interact and communicate; 2. To engage participants in the singing and playing of instruments; 3. To plan and rehearse for a music ensemble.
Levinson continues, “Music is proven to be an effective intervention and has been beneficial for many Family Alliance program participants.” In addition, the Sun City Parkinson’s Support Group, currently meeting at Prairie Lodge’s FountainView Room, will move to the Family Alliance location also in September.
“The move will open this group up to Parkinson members of the entire surrounding community,” adds Levinson. Alan Mogilner comments, “There will be no charge for the use of the room by the support group [for the meetings].”
Family Alliance’s new location will be located at 12555 Farm Hill Road.
Levinson informs us, “The agency plans to be open there some time in August and will be offering an integrated model of care that includes the services of Dr. Rex Nzeribe, who is trained in both Primary Care and Geriatric Medicine. Dr. Michael Raida, a Geriatric Psychiatrist, will be available there two days per month. An Adult Day Health Program and Memory Care Program will be open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Transportation for the day programs is provided for both Kane and McHenry County residents. Cost for these programs can be supplemented through the Illinois Department of Aging or Veteran’s Administration, based on finances and need, or through personal long-term care insurance.”
Because the goal of the agency is to offer comprehensive services that address many aspects of individual and family wellness, Family Alliance also offers Behavioral Health services. These services include individual therapy, counseling, community and group support.
Now located in Woodstock, the organization has been in business for 32 years. Levinson summarizes Family Alliance’s goal by commenting, “The second site in Huntley will make these services more accessible to a greater number of people in both McHenry and Kane Counties. The agency will continue to offer caregiver support groups on-site and throughout the county [counties] and will partner with other area support groups to offer a welcome venue for their meetings.”
To celebrate their opening of Huntley’s new facility, Family Alliance’s Annual Dinner and Auction Fundraiser, “Here We Grow Again,” will be held 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, August 9 in Drendel Ballroom. Jameson’s will cater a three-course plated dinner, and the event will also feature silent and live auctions, wine, raffle and bucket raffles, games and giveaways. Tickets are now available for $75 each or $700 for a table of 10. RSVP by August 1 to 815-338-3590.
