The Melvin Weinstein Parkinson’s Foundation has funded the cost of medications and health care equipment, supplies and services including shower chairs, ramps, electric wheelchairs and scooters, U-Step walkers and canes, computers, lift seats, elevated toilet seats, in-home care, car lifts, tracheotomy kits, speaker phones, tub transfer benches, adult diapers, grab bars for inside the home, and transportation to the doctor’s appointments. These simple provisions can have a profound impact on the day to day lives of people affected by Parkinson’s.
And that is our mission.
Below, read some of the wonderful feedback that the Melvin Weinstein Parkinson’s Foundation has received from clients we have helped over the years.
Of all the twists and turns I took calling 800 numbers.. Not one of them had an application for Parkinson’s assistance. Suddenly out of nowhere…it sounded to me like an Angel had come on board named Marsha. I expressed my need for assistance on abnormally high co-pays for Parkinson’s medications…. I am empowered by their support, lifted by their thoughtfulness, and inspired by their goodness. The battle goes on.
I would like to thank the MWPF for helping me with funding for a stairlift for my home. It has made a huge difference in my life. I do not have to worry about the struggle to climb the stairs to my bedroom and now I can easily get downstairs to the living space. It is with much appreciation. Thank you for making my life with PD a little brighter.
…. I had progressed with Parkinson’s disease to the point where I could not get out of a chair without help. If no one was around to give me a hand I had to fall out onto the floor and hope that I could get myself up. When I saw the article about the MWPF I thought “Hot dog, maybe I can get myself a lift chair. That will give me back some of my independence.” I decided it wouldn’t hurt to try . After all, the worst thing I could get would be a big NO….. five days later I received a call that the MWPF was going to get me a lift chair. I felt like I had won the lottery….I will never be able to thank the MWPF for their compassion, courtesy, kindness, swiftness, friendliness, or their “lay it all on the table” attitude. I was treated with dignity and respect. Not like a person with a weird wiggle and a funny way of walking. They made the whole transaction extremely easy and stress free. It is a first class organization and they really are there to help people who are struggling with Parkinson’s. Melvin Weinstein would be proud.
My husband, Jerry P. has had Parkinson’s since 2003. He worked very hard to control and create a lifestyle living with PD. He managed to work everyday until 2007 when he took an early retirement. Jerry applied for SS disability and was approved, but we were informed that Medicare would not cover him for 24 months?? So for almost 2 years almost of all of his medical expenses, drugs, and COBRA premiums have taken almost all of our small savings. Several months ago I noticed an ad for the Melvin Weinstein Parkinson’s Foundation in the PD newsletter for assistance for people with Parkinson’s. I answered the ad and received an application, which I quickly returned. My wish as the caretaker was for a transport wheel chair. I needed something I could lift in and out of the car to get Jerry out and about. My tight budget did not allow for me to make such a purchase. Several weeks after I submitted my application, I was called by the MWPF. My application was approved and the transport chair had been ordered and it arrived 2 days later. The transport chair has helped me so much. ME, being the caretaker. People sometimes forget the caregivers. It has made trips out to the mall, to the doctor and family outings possible for both my husband and me. We used the chair to take our grandson to the children’s museum. Now we can do some things for the first time in a while. It is nice to bring some normalcy to a difficult situation. I just wanted to thank the MWPF for sharing and caring for people with Parkinson’s. It just takes a kind hand to make a small difference in one life. Thank you.
Robert received financial assistance with Apokyn, an injectable drug that helps his wife better control her body movements. He said, “With all the research we did, Marsha and Traci were the only people we found who actually offered immediate help specifically to people with Parkinson’s who are facing a health related crisis. I contacted Marsha by e-mail, filled out the application, and she and Traci made the decision to pay for the drug, which made a tremendous difference in my wife’s quality of life.”