BARCELONA, Spain (PRWEB)
April 11, 2023

In honor of World Parkinson’s Day, the World Parkinson Coalition (WPC), together with Associació Catalana per al Parkinson, Barcelona Turisme Convention Bureau and sponsored by AbbVie, announced today the launch of its Make the City “Parkinson’s Ready” program ahead of the 6th World Parkinson Congress taking place July 4-7, 2023. The program will help the Barcelona community prepare to welcome congress attendees living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their care partners and is focused on equipping people working on the front lines of transportation, hotel staff, convention center staff, as well as local police and customs officials at the airport with the opportunity to learn about Parkinson’s so they can have positive experiences interacting with delegates who live with Parkinson’s during the Congress.

“Parkinson’s disease is one of the fastest growing neurological disorders and a significant challenge for people living with PD is traveling comfortably and safely,” said Elizabeth “Eli” Pollard, Executive Director of World Parkinson Coalition. “PD is complicated and often misunderstood, so accessibility issues and lack of PD awareness by local staff can present a myriad of problems causing additional stressors for those living with the disease.”

The “Parkinson’s Ready” program is designed to:

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  Prepare Barcelona to welcome the more than 4,000 delegates during this year’s World Parkinson Congress, some of whom live with Parkinson’s
• Ensure congress attendees have a welcoming and safe experience while in Barcelona
• Educate public services and hospitality industry leaders to better understand PD and leave the city smarter than before

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“The “Parkinson’s Ready” program was designed to prioritize the needs of those living with this condition and provide empathetic and practical training to equip the Barcelona community to meet their needs,” said Roser Roigé, president of Associació Catalana per al Parkinson.

“Barcelona has proven itself as a pioneering Smart City through the renewal of smart transport and urban infrastructures – but, above all, it has been a pioneer in understanding how to harness technology to offer better sustainability, inclusivity and self-management of the city,” said Christoph Tessmar, Barcelona Turisme Convention Bureau Managing Director. “Our work with the “Parkinson’s Ready” training is making the city even smarter. This program will leave a significant positive impact on our society and across the different groups involved in the trainings, including public transportation, police, airport and hotels.”

“Parkinson’s Ready” will be offered in a series of short trainings in April, May and June, the months leading up to the Congress, which will take place in July. The trainings will include specialized elements specific to each group, including police officers, first responders and hotel, convention center and airport staff. The World Parkinson Coalition has a legacy in making cities more inclusive through this program, which began in 2010.

“The collaborative and thoughtful approach taken by “Parkinson’s Ready” organizers for Barcelona is truly special,” said Selma Peláez, neurophysiotherapist at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Associació Catalana per al Parkinson and instructor for the “Parkinson’s Ready” program. “This year’s trainings will set the foundation of formalizing a protocol of community education for Parkinson’s disease, and we look forward to Barcelona setting an example to educate other communities around the world.

”As part of WPC’s legacy, after the congress ends the PD knowledge will stay in Barcelona with those who were trained, allowing them to support their communities, including more than 160,000 people living with PD in Spain, and future guests across airports, hotels, meeting centers, public transportation, taxis and beyond.

“Traveling long distance and moving around in a big city can be much more challenging than one can imagine,” said Fulvio Capitanio, person living with PD, economist, co-founder of Unidos contra el Párkinson and World Parkinson Congress Steering Committee member. “It’s a great relief for people with Parkinson’s disease to know that you can find public servants educated about the disease and ready to help.

“World Parkinson’s Day is honored every year on April 11 to build global awareness for PD and empower those living with the condition and patient advocacy groups to speak up about the impact it has on their lives.

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About the World Parkinson Coalition® and WPC 2023

The World Parkinson Coalition Inc provides an international forum for learning about the latest scientific discoveries, medical practices, caregiver initiatives and advocacy work related to Parkinson’s disease. The triennial World Parkinson Congresses provide a space for the global Parkinson’s community of researchers, clinicians, health care professionals, people with Parkinson’s and their care partners to meet in person, network, and discuss advances in Parkinson’s research, improve understanding and promote advocacy worldwide, while influencing future research and care options. The WPC 2023 will attract more than 4,000 delegates.

About Parkinson’s Disease

Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million people worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease on the planet. While Parkinson’s disease is characterized by limited functional ability, a variety of nonmotor and motor symptoms significantly impact the quality of life of both people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. This can include resting tremor, muscle rigidity, paid, fatigue, anxiety and depression.

About Associació Catalana per al Parkinson

Associació Catalana per al Parkinson (The Catalan Association for Parkinson’s) is a non-profit organization born in 1985 in Barcelona. It was the first association of patients with Parkinson’s disease in Spain. Since then, the organization has been working to provide care and advice to people affected by Parkinson’s disease and their families. In 1997, it was declared a public utility by the Spanish government, and in 2020, it received a distinction from the Catalan Society of Neurology for its neurorehabilitative work and social awareness. Based in different towns in Catalonia, it provides rehabilitation therapies, social care, home care, and health education.

About Barcelona Turisme Convention Bureau

The Barcelona Convention Bureau (BCB) is a specialised division of Turisme de Barcelona that promotes Barcelona as a congress, convention and incentive travel destination, and offers free and impartial advice to professionals interested in organising their meeting in Barcelona. Founded in 1983, BCB was a pioneer in this field in Spain. Four decades of experience have given us in-depth knowledge of the city, creating close working relationships with companies and associations in the meetings industry.

About AbbVie in Neuroscience

At AbbVie, our commitment to preserve the personhood of those living with neurological and psychiatric disorders is unwavering. Every challenge in this uncharted territory makes us more determined and drives us harder to discover and deliver solutions for patients, care partners and clinicians. AbbVie’s Neuroscience portfolio consists of approved therapies in neurological and psychiatric disorders, including bipolar I disorder, major depressive disorder, migraine, Parkinson’s disease, post-stroke spasticity, schizophrenia and others along with a robust pipeline.

[1] Daniel Weintraub, Cynthia L. Comella and Stacy Horn. (2008). Parkinson’s Disease – Part 1: Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Burden, Diagnosis, and Assessment. Cranbury: American Journal of Managed Care. (REF-46529)