Woodvale resident celebrates 20 years as State’s first Parkinson’s nurse specialist

WHEN registered nurse Janet McLeod heard about a new role created by Parkinson’s WA – the State’s first Parkinson’s nurse specialist – in 1998, little did she know she would still be part of the team today.

“I had a lightbulb moment when I heard about the new role, and I knew it was for me,” the Woodvale resident said.

“I guess I was right because that was two decades ago now and I’ve loved every minute of working with the Parkinson’s WA team.”

November marks 20 years since Parkinson’s WA launched its nurse specialist service, which consists of a team of eight community-based nurses that visit people living with Parkinson’s in their homes, and also up-skills allied health professionals.

“Our nurse specialists act as educators and supporters for the individual who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, as well as their family members, as opposed to simply offering hands-on nursing care, and they are able to advise of the best and most appropriate services for a person’s individual circumstances,” Parkinson’s WA chief executive Brenda Matthews said.

“The service has made a tremendous difference to thousands of people throughout the State living with Parkinson’s, and we are genuinely delighted that, 20 years on, we are now able to celebrate the eight community nurses who now make up the Parkinson’s WA nursing team.”