Where we live and serve
The Syracuse community action committee (CAC) is in Upstate or central New York. Syracuse is the major urban area but there are many rural areas of Onondaga County as well.
About our CAC
Currently, we have five members that include a medical doctor, support group facilitator and Local Aging Services Expert, Parkinson’s services provider, health care and statistics professional, and a non-profit manager. Future efforts will recruit and focus on transportation providers, politicians, pharmacists, faith communities, health department representative, families, and people living with Parkinson’s.
Our “Why?”
The local Health Department does not see Parkinson’s as an important issue. Local faith communities do not appear to see Parkinson’s as something to be addressed and local politicians do not seem to see the needs of those living with Parkinson’s as something worth their attention. Additionally, socioeconomic barriers prevent people with limited resources from obtaining adequate or specialized care. Affordable and accessible transportation is also a barrier to obtaining services both rurally and within the inner-city. Lastly, people with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD) face problems accessing care, support groups, education, and activities specific to their needs.
Our Healthy Parkinson’s Community Vision
We are hopeful that our Healthy Parkinson’s Community will be one that engages decision makers, health care providers, transportation providers, and the larger community in ensuring those with Parkinson’s feel they are accepted, valued, and important members of the community. In addition, our Health Parkinson’s Community will find funding to provide resources and care for all those living with Parkinson’s despite financial means or other disparities.
Our hope is that the Davis Phinney Foundation and the other Healthy Parkinson’s Communities will be a sounding board, providing feedback, linking us together, so that we can learn from each other’s successes and failures, methodologies, constituencies, goals and achievements. Lastly, we are hopeful that the foundation will assist us with finding funding for our most promising endeavors to build our Healthy Parkinson’s Community.