TRIB TOTAL MEDIA SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2019 · 5
GETTING ACTIVE
Jackie Russell and David Zid are the founders of the Delay the Disease program.
Exercise program strives to slow
effects of Parkinson’s disease
David Zid and Jackie Russell have a long
list of stories about the Parkinson’s disease
patients who, over the years, have tried the
program they founded, Delay the Disease,
and seen an improvement in their overall
fitness.
One of Zid’s favorites is about a man who
retired because of his symptoms, only to return
to work less than two years after starting
to train with the program.
“That’s a big deal,” said Zid, a certified fitness
trainer from Columbus, Ohio.
One of Russell’s favorites is the story of
what led her to collaborate with Zid in the
first place.
Fourteen years ago, however, Russell, a
longtime nurse, met with a former colleague
of hers who’d asked for her help with a project.
Dr. Thomas Mallory was a surgeon who
had retired two years earlier because of the
progression of Parkinson’s.
“His transformation was remarkable,” she
said. “His symptoms were nearly gone. I said,
‘What in the world have you been doing?’
and he said, ‘Well that’s what I wanted to talk
to you about. The only thing I’ve done has
been this exercise program that David Zid
BY KAREN PRICE
FOR TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
OHIOHEALTH
Lear! to Dance
With Dementia
Written by the daughter of a St. Barnabas Memory Care resident
Dancing with dementia was not easy. My
dad always loved to dance. He would
glide around the dance floor. The
first dance was always with my
mom, then withmy two older
sisters and finally, my turn!
I remember the excitement
as I anticipated my turn to
have my dad lead me around
the dance floor. It wasn’t
always graceful, but it was
our dance.
In my dad’s final years
he was diagnosed with
dementia. This was
heartbreaking. Learning
to communicate with him
became a challenge. Then, I
remembered how to follow his
lead and let him lead me in this
dance. Some days we would talk,
others we would spend singing and
sometimes we just sat quietly holding
hands. Once again, it wasn’t always
graceful, but it was our dance.
Given the choice to sit it out or dance, dance!
We are here to help! For more information about St. Barnabas
Memory Care and our five Living Assisted Facilities, visit
StBarnabasMemoryCare.com or contact Anne Nelson, Director
of Clinical Admissions at 724-625-4000.
5850 Meridian Road . Gibsonia, PA 15044
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