Parkinson's Disease Knows No Language Barriers

Media statement

For immediate release

29 October 2009

Parkinson’s Awareness Week from 1 to 7 November 2009 will be marked by the launch of pamphlets in the 10 most commonly spoken languages in New Zealand.

The theme ‘Korero Mai – Speak to me’ will see Parkinson’s New Zealand, and their 20 divisions across the country, focus on reaching out to families affected by Parkinson’s disease who may find English-only material a barrier to access to vital information.

‘A diagnosis of Parkinson’s can be hard to comprehend and for people who speak little or no English it can be even more confusing, stressful and alienating,‘ says the National Director of Parkinson’s New Zealand, Deirdre O’Sullivan.

In addition to the English and Te Reo Māori versions, An Introduction to Parkinson’s, which describes Parkinson’s disease symptoms, treatments and related services, will be available in Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Samoan, Spanish, Tongan, traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese.

The multilingual pamphlets were launched at Parliament on Thursday 29th October to a crowd of Parkinson’s New Zealand members, community figures and cultural leaders.

According to the 2006 census, 2.2 percent of New Zealand’s population, or 88,000 people, cannot maintain an everyday conversation in English, and over 671,000 people in New Zealand speak two or more languages.

Parkinson’s New Zealand is proud to work towards being more accessible to all New Zealanders affected by Parkinson’s, as Parkinson’s does not discriminate – it can affect anyone of any age and ethnicity.

More Informatipon About Parkinson's

* One in every 500 New Zealanders has Parkinson’s – around 9,000 people.

* Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that occurs when insufficient quantities of the chemical dopamine are produced by the brain

* People with Parkinson’s tend not to refer to themselves as ‘sufferers’, opting for a more positive ‘people affected by Parkinson’s’.

* The main motor symptoms of Parkinson’s are:

-- Tremor (shaking)

-- Stiffness and rigidity

-- Slowness of movement (bradykinesia)

*Other symptoms can include changes in mood and anxiety, poor balance and altered speech

*A large number of people with Parkinson’s are aged over 65, however the average age of diagnosis is 59, and many New Zealanders are diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s in their thirties and forties.

*Parkinson’s New Zealand is a national not-for-profit with 20 divisions throughout the country and 35 Field Officers who work with people with Parkinson’s as part of multi-disciplinary team

ENDS

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