Bell Area Parkinsons Support

09/11/2025

Mark your calendars for the Bell County Senior Expo Tuesday September 23rd!

📅 Mark your calendars for the Bell County Senior Expo Tuesday September 23rd!

✅Over 250 Booths
✅$10,000 worth of door prizes
✅and so much more!

We'll see you there!

09/09/2025

Sorry for the short notice. The two free tickets have already been spoken for, but you can can call the number below if interested in attending.

Mark - I learned about this opportunity about 2 hours ago. You and Linda interested? Great for FB page. I'm going to contact two more couples and George. I have a conflicting meeting in Georgetown.

Opportunity Wed (Sep 10) afternoon -2:30-4:30. BAPS has 2 tickets to be in a small forum with physicians and experts Ray Dorsey and Michael S. Okun in N. Austin for 2 hours in a small forum at Power for Parkinson's headquarters. Should be an insightful discussion about the man-made causes of Parkinson's and a new path to treat, prevent, and ultimately end Parkinson's. Their new book is The Parkinson's Plan (pdplan.org). More tickets may be available, but Gayle just learned about this today (Monday). Location is 5555 N Lamar Blvd Ste. C109 - 512.815.3324. If you can attend, please let Gayle know so you can take her 2 tickets.

The Parkinson's Plan book by Dr. Ray Dorsey and Dr. Michael Okun reveals how toxins fuel Parkinson's and how to prevent, slow, and treat it.

09/08/2025

Reminder: This Friday Sep 12th meeting will be a discussion meeting for the full support group. The group asked to have an all-hands discussion, so that's what we're doing Friday. Location is the CTCOG at 2180 N. Main St. Belton Texas. Meetings at this location are held on the 2nd and the 4th Friday of the month from 2:30 - 4:00 PM.

Upcoming Events: The second Friday is when we have presentations. In Belton the Caregivers and PwP meeting separately on the 4th Friday.

09/05/2025

Upcoming Event: GAPS Gala 12 November

On Wednesday, November 12, the Georgetown Area Parkinson's Support Group is having its first GAPS Gala from 5 - 7 PM. We'll have at least one BAPS table and I'm looking for folks who would like to attend. There is no cost to attend the dinner. There will be opportunities to donate to GAPS. The location is the San Gabriel Community Center. Let me know if you'd like to reserve one or two seats with our group.

Gayle

254.718.4197

Send a message to learn more

09/05/2025

Hi Members,

Our Bell Area Parkinson's Support group for Western Bell County, Copperas Cove, and nearby areas meets Friday, September 5, at St. Andrews United Methodist Churh Fellowship Hill (206 W. Fowler Avenue, Killeen). We meet from 2:30 - 4:00, but feel free to arrive between 2:10 and 2:30 to sign in, grab a snack, and socialize.

We'll greet new members and share updates. If Judy Mills can be with us, we'll learn some balance exercises in the open section of our new meeting area. One of our members has asked for ideas she can use to ease and speed housekeeping. That request spurred a discussion in our North group of general tips and tricks for dealing with Parkinson's challenges that impact daily activities. Some of our members will have just completed the three sessions of Occupational Therapy sessions at UMHB, and they are likely to have ideas to add.

UPCOMING:

On Wednesday, November 12, the Georgetown Area Parkinson's Support Group is having its first GAPS Gala from 5 - 7 PM. We'll have at least one BAPS table and I'm looking for folks who would like to attend. There is no cost to attend the dinner. There will be opportunities to donate to GAPS. The location is the San Gabriel Community Center. Let me know if you'd like to reserve one or two seats with our group.

No confirmation yet, but I think Steven Darroh, speech therapist and former chairman of the GAPS Board, will speak in Killeen at our Nov 7 meeting.

Also no commitment yet from Dr. Garner about when we'll receive our personalized results from the MiraColt-related assessments that took place at the Belton Senior Center.

Gayle

254.718.4197

08/14/2025

REMINDER: Friday, August 29th is FREE FRIDAY! As it is the 5th Friday of Aug and there will be no meeting scheduled at any location. Look for upcoming events on FUN FRIDAYS in September.

08/14/2025

Friday, August 22 meeting in Belton will have separate sessions for those with Parkinson's and Caregivers.

08/14/2025

BAPS-West meets Friday, August 15, at St. Andrews United Methodist Church Fellowship Hill (206 W. Fowler Avenue, Killeen). We meet from 2:30 - 4:00, but feel free to arrive between 2:10 and 2:30 to sign in, grab a snack, and socialize.

We'll greet new members and share updates. Judy Mills will lead us through some balance exercises in the open section of our new meeting area. This activity was planned for August 1, but it was postponed. If Mark and Linda Pritchard can attend, we can learn more about our newly reactivated page and group. (I just approved a request from one of you to be a member!) We can also discuss any feedback from those who attended Dr. Alex's Parkinson's Head to Toe presentation in Belton on August 8.

Send a message to learn more

08/11/2025

Mark your calendars for the Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas Support Group! Join us the 2nd Wednesday of every month to connect, share, and learn how to age in place with confidence.
📅 Next Meeting August 13th at 10:00am 📅

Mark your calendars for our Support Group! Join us the 2nd Wednesday of every month to connect, share, and learn how to age in place with confidence.

📅 Next Meeting August 13th at 10:00am 📅

08/05/2025

Contact, Locations and Date/Time Information. All Are Welcome - No Membership Cost

08/05/2025

Update on UMHB Series - PD Pathways: Tools for Daily Living - opportunity for BAPS members

BAPS Members,

I wanted to share with you more information I learned about the UMHB Series of Occupational Therapy Sessions related to questions I've received. The sessions on August 21, 28, and September 4 are from 11 am - 1:30 pm, as this time period was strongly preferred by BAPS members who completed the survey that helped structure the series. An educational lesson will be conducted as a lunch-and-learn during each session. During this lesson, participants can eat sack lunches they bring from home. The exact time period for the lunch-and-learn portion is not yet determined.

I have emailed a flyer that provides additional details about the scope. An opportunity to participate in a research project will be offered to participants. Also, additional individual sessions will be offered to participants. The location is Hardy Hall on the UMHB campus.

Both those with Parkinson's and caregivers are invited to sign up. The plan is to limit the group to 15-20 participants. If you're interested, call 254.295.4872 soon to sign up and claim a spot.

See you soon,

Gayle

(254) 718-4197

- - - - - - NEW TOPIC: UMHB OT SESSIONS

I mentioned University of Mary Hardin/Baylor Occupational Therapy sessions Friday. I had no idea some would be available so soon. The BAPS-North group heard about this opportunity a few months ago and their feedback helped structure the sessions. You missed out on that, but you have an opportunity to sign up. If you're interested, I suggest you call 254.295.4872 soon to sign up and claim a spot. See the attached flyer for more information.

The UMHB graduate students in OT are offering a 3-session workshop for people with Parkinsons Disease and their care partners/family members. This will take place for 3 consecutive Thursdays beginning August 21st at Hardy Hall on the UMHB campus. All sessions are 11:00am - 1:30pm. The students have designed sessions according to feedback provided by BAPS-North members. UMHB will be collecting data to assess efficacy, but participants may choose to have their data excluded from any published information. All data will be de-identified. UMHB-OT hopes to recruit at least 15-20 participants (total including people with PD and care partners). I'd love to have so many requests that UMHB would consider a second set of sessions.

Gayle

254.718.4197

Coordinator, Bell Area Parkinson's Support (BAPS)

Send a message to learn more

08/05/2025

THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, is NOT a usual meeting date for BAPS-West, but it's an opportunity to join with the BAPS-North group to learn from Dr. Alex.

Dr. Alexandra Armitage (Dr. Alex) has a presentation on Friday that should be beneficial for all of us.

Title: From Head to Toe: The Parkinson's Tune-Up You Didn't Know You Needed

Subtitle: A Whole-Body Health Checklist for People Living with Parkinson's Disease

Description: Parkinson's is more than a movement disorder—and your care should reflect that. Join us for a practical, eye-opening session about the overlooked but critical parts of Parkinson's care. We'll walk through the essential referrals, screenings, and support services that can help you live better, longer, and safer. You'll leave with a personalized "Parkinson's Check-Up Checklist" and clear steps to advocate for the care you deserve.

In This Talk, You'll Learn:

The top 10 medical specialists and screenings every PD patient should consider

What symptoms often go unnoticed—but are treatable

How to create your own Parkinson's care team beyond your neurologist

Questions to ask at your next appointment

BONUS: Take-Home Checklist Included!

WHEN/WHERE: Friday, August 8, 2:30-4:00, CTCOG, 2180 N. Main St, Belton, TX.

WHO: Members, guests, and all interested in learning more about Parkinson's Disease. No cost.

As usual, feel free to arrive between 2:10 and 2:30 to socialize, sign in, and snack.

Send a message to learn more