Specialist Parkinson’s Disease nurses have again been warmly welcomed at their recent clinics at Mount Gambier and Kingston.

They visit the South East region every six months to support locals living with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions.

The nurses are based in Adelaide with Kristen Mack one of those happy to spend time on the road.

“We find our services and advice is greatly appreciated by people in rural areas,” Ms Mack said.

“As well as Adelaide, we run six-monthly clinics at other rural locations including Port Lincoln, Iron Triangle and the Riverland.

“We find that our appointments fill quickly.”

The support program began in mid-2022.

The State Government has provided $2.5m in funding for the equivalent of four full-time Parkinson’s Nurse Specialists for two years.

The nurses and their critical services are administered through The Hospital Research Foundation Group – Parkinson’s and support clients in their own homes, aged care facilities or acute care settings.

More than 8000 South Australians live with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative condition with complex motor and non-motor symptoms including rigidity, tremor, pain, gastrointestinal issues, depression and memory, thinking and sleep problems.

Olivia Nassaris, Executive Director of THRFG – Parkinson’s, said the nurses are much needed in the community.

“A Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist is an invaluable support person for clients and can coordinate a multi-disciplinary team of health care professionals needed to manage the condition,” Ms Nassaris said.

“Parkinson’s nurses also have the time to take the client and their family through the suite of care and treatment options available.”

“Our scope of practice, developed with Wellbeing SA, focuses on education about living well with Parkinson’s including medication management, reducing falls, reducing hospital admissions and keeping people safely living at home for longer.”

The community-first approach follows a similar model in Western Australia where Parkinson’s nurses have been successfully operating for more than two decades.