Patient Education and Support Groups
Our educational resource nurses provide patient education, along with community education and awareness programs.
Parkinson's Disease Support
Split groups meet from 3:14-4 p.m. Group one is for caregivers and meets with Valerie Stickel-Diehl, RN, MS, MSCN. Group two is for the diagnosed. Meets from 4 to 5 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the East Tower Conference Center at Mercy Medical Center.
October 3, 2012
"Swallowing Challenges and Strategies"
Speaker:
Lori Huffman, speech therapist, will discuss strategies to help with swallowing issues. Symptoms of PD can be choking, spit at corners of your mouth, dry mouth, thick saliva, coughing after drinking liquids.
November 7, 2012
Guest Speaker: SHIIP Representative Larry Hedlin will share valuable information about health care coverage options, supplements & medicare advantage, pros & cons. Please bring your questions.
Epilepsy Support
Meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month in the East Tower Conference Center at Mercy Medical Center.
- October 23, 2012
- November 27, 2012
Expert speakers will address challenges faced by those with a seizure history. Speakers are being scheduled for the following topics: Employment, transportation, advocacy, medications, pregnancy, legal, childhood epilepsy, parenting, safety and financial issues.
Multiple Sclerosis Support
Facetime with Ruan Neurology –An MS Education Series
Meets from 3 to 4:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month in the East Tower Conference Center at Mercy Medical Center
Thursday, October 11, 2012
"Cognition"
Speaker: Valerie Stickel-Diehl, RN, MS, MSCN, Mercy Ruan Multiple Sclerosis Center
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Annual Women’s MS Conference at Mercy East Tower Conference Center
Thursday, November 8, 2012
"Sleep Hygiene"
Speaker: Valerie Stickel-Diehl, RN, MS, MSCN, Mercy Ruan Multiple Sclerosis Center
Alzheimer's Disease Support
MEMORY MINDERS for early/newly diagnosed patients
Meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month in Des Moines
ALZHEIMER’S BEGINNING THE CONVERSATION provides a one-time, basic understanding discussion
Meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month in Des Moines
ALUMNI GROUP for caregivers that were in the Memory Minders support group in the past
Meets from 1:30-3 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month in Des Moines
NEWLY DIAGNOSED-ADJUSTING TO THE NEWS
Meets from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month in Des Moines
NEWLY DIAGNOSED/EARLY STAGE GROUP
Meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in Ames
For more information about any of the support groups listed above, please contact Valerie Stickel-Diehl at (515) 358-0002 or vstickel-diehl@mercydesmoines.org.
Community Resources
For more information about the community organizations Mercy partners with, please visit their sites.
- Alzheimer's Association
- Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Parkinson's Disease Foundation
- American Heart Association
- Epilepsy Association of Iowa
