ComForCare Owner Helps Organize Parkinson’s Event

Melissa Morante, who is part of the owner/operator team of three ComForCare Home Care offices in Florida was interviewed for her involvement in helping plan an event for people with Parkinson’s disease and their family members, as well as health and medical professionals.

Morante is a board member of the American Parkinson Disease Association’s South Florida Chapter and a Parkinson’s care expert.

Organizers anticipate the highest attendance in the event's history.

This article originally appeared in the Boca Newspaper: 

APDA South Florida Chapter presents “A Comprehensive Approach to Parkinson’s Disease” at Boca Raton Marriott

By: David DiPino, Contributing Writer

For the fifth consecutive year, the American Parkinson Disease Association’s (APDA) South Florida Chapter is hosting an event for people with Parkinson’s disease and their family members, health and medical professionals.

The event “A Comprehensive Approach to Parkinson’s Disease” will take place at 9 a.m. on Jan. 11 at the Boca Raton Marriott. The keynote speaker is Carlos Singer, MD, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Division of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, University of Miami Health System. Dr. Carlos Singer’s presentation for the event is titled: “Parkinson’s Disease and Autonomic Symptoms.” The event runs until 3:30 p.m.

Following the keynote address, a series of topics will be presented by Parkinson’s experts and medical professionals. Palm Beach Neuroscience Institute and US WorldMeds are sponsoring the event and for medical professionals, Delray Medical Center will provide five contact hours to participants with licensure in Nursing and Respiratory Therapy and Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology. Melissa Morante, a board member with the APDA South Florida Chapter, encourages anyone touched by Parkinson’s disease to attend.

“We encourage anyone who has a connection to Parkinson’s disease to attend this event. That includes people living with Parkinson’s disease, family caregivers, professional caregivers and other healthcare professionals,” said Morante.

According to Morante, the APDA South Florida Chapter board of directors includes six people who are very active in the Parkinson’s disease community. Morante, a healthcare executive and chief marketing officer for ComForcare Home Care, said the local APDA South Florida Chapter runs support groups, offer dance and choir programs, and participate in other community outreach programs offering resources to those living with Parkinson’s disease or caring for a loved one with the disease.

Arif Dalvi, MD, MBA, is a highly-experienced and expert neurologist with the Palm Beach Neuroscience Institute (PBNI), where he is Director of the Comprehensive Movement Disorders Center and on-staff at Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Dr. Dalvi specializes in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders such as essential tremor and dystonia. Dr. Dalvi and Lloyd Zucker, MD, FAANS, Brain & Spine Center of South Florida, and a neurosurgeon with Delray Medical Center, specialize in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Programming to the treatment of tremor ailments associated with Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Dalvi and Dr. Zucker will present the latest in “Surgical Treatment Options” for Parkinson’s disease.

Following the keynote speaker, James E. Galvin, MD, MPH, FANA, Professor of Integrated Medical Science, Associate Dean for Clinical Research, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, will present on “Lewy Body Disease.” Benjamin H. Greenberg, Esq., Greenberg Elder Law Services, LLC, will present “The Importance of Planning” and Jessica Barrett Kordansky, Ph.D., Psychology Counseling presents on “Coping Mechanisms.” Dr. Dalvi takes the stage again to host PD 101: “Frequently Asked Questions.” Then, the entire panel will convene for discussion.

“When we were planning the agenda, we discussed at length the need to be able to answer as many questions as possible. Whether someone is newly diagnosed or has been living with the disease for years, the need to understand what they can expect as their disease progresses, what new treatments are on the horizon, what resources are available and where they can go for help is the most important thing. The goal of this event is to arm attendees with as much information as possible so that they can make informed decisions about their care and management of the disease,” Morante said.

In addition, there will be an exhibit hall at the event. The exhibitors include organizations that offer products, services and education for those living with the disease or caring for someone who has Parkinson’s. Exhibitors include Palm Beach Neuroscience Institute, US Worldmeds, Abbott, Boston Scientific, LifeCare Therapy Services and ComForcare Home Care to name a few.

The event costs $20 for people living with Parkinson’s disease, a family caregiver or care partner and $50 for professionals.

Registration is required: www.apdaparkinson.org/FL or call 1-800-825-2732.