In honor of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, we tapped a local caregiving expert for tips on identifying and caring for loved ones with Parkinson’s.
Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinsons’ disease (PD) each year—approximately the amount of fans the Rose Bowl Stadium in Cali holds. It’s a staggering number that continues to rise year over year.
If you’re not familiar, the disease is a chronic, progressive brain disorder that causes uncontrollable body movements, muscle stiffness and balance problems—but, with early detection and expert care, those diagnosed with PD can still live a long and meaningful life. Notable figures with PD in the public eye include Michale J. Fox (who famously started a foundation and has testified on Capitol Hill to raise awareness and find a cure), Alan Alda, Muhammad Ali, among many others.
“Accurately diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is important so your loved one can receive the proper treatment and advice regarding the recommended care,” says Raleigh caregiving expert Ken Helmuth of Right at Home. So, in honor of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, we chatted up Helmuth for helpful tips on identifying and caring for loved ones with PD.
Educate yourself: Research education materials that can help you understand the disease and its progression, and be honest with yourself, as well as your loved one who has been diagnosed with PD.
Be consistent: Once your loved one is diagnosed with PD, it is important to be consistent with the doctor’s appointments and stay on top of your insurance coverage and changes.
Be observant: As a caregiver for someone with PD, experts recommend you watch for changes in condition, be flexible and able to go with the flow, promote independence while taking adequate safety measures, and ensure that any and all medications are taken appropriately and on time.
Be honest with each other: Start an open dialogue for tough (but important) conversations with your loved one where you come to an agreement about when they truly need help.
Attend doctors’ appointments: Go along to ask questions, take notes, and share your unique perspective on symptoms or other issues your loved one may not bring up.
Stay on top of insurance: Familiarize yourself with the terms of your health insurance. You’ll need to know details about if and to what extent your plan covers prescriptions, therapy sessions and other unexpected items.
321 Coffee teams up with NC State for new co-branded coffee.
Wake up with a cup of Pack pride via 321 Coffee’s new co-branded coffee with NC State (!). Dubbed Greater Good, the coffee partnership is many years in the making. 321 Coffee founders Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans met during their freshman year as Park Scholars at NC State—and the pair credit the university for much of the coffee’s success.
To wit, the company’s first sales came on campus; Wrege and Evans’ friends and fellow NC State alumni helped get the first shop at the State Farmers Market off the ground; and benevolent brewers were selected to be a part of NCSU’s Miller Fellowship, which helped them transition into full-time entrepreneurship.
“This coffee brings the story full circle,” says Wrege. “So much of what we have created is thanks to NC State and the people that we met along the way. We are proud to be a part of the Wolfpack.”
The coffee also represents the shared value between 321 Coffee and NC State of working in pursuit of the greater good, says Wrege. Both parties strive to make a meaningful impact in the community, with 321 Coffee currently employing 50+ adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).
NC State University
Sam, one of 321’s first employees and a lifelong Wolfpack fan, is featured on the Greater Good coffee packaging. “NC State and 321 are like a second family to me,” he says. “Having their support means everything.”
To top it all off, a portion of the proceeds from Greater Good sales will go to support NC State student scholarships in the areas of need, merit, study abroad and athletics. So, one Pack, one goal. Talk about caffeinating for a good cause!
From the lineup to the surprise appearances to the cool activations and ops (we got the honor of chatting up a few of the big names!), Dreamville was indeed a dream.
Another, ahem, dreamyDreamville Festival has come and gone in the City of Oaks—some would say the most epic fest to date. The two-day fest saw some of the most iconic names in hip-hop take to the Rise and Shine stages at Dix Park (Drake! Usher! Sean Paul!), bringing in ~50,000 visitors per day from all over the state, country and world.
“To see the festival at this magnitude each year—it’s phenomenal,” said day one performer Lute in a sit-down chat with Raleigh Magazine in the artists’ lounge at the festival. “I saw that 15% of people at the festival are from [Raleigh], and the rest are from somewhere else. So I think it’s kinda fire that all these people are coming here.” (He’s not wrong—that’s 50 states and 23 countries to be exact (!)) … As J. Cole’s brainchild keeps getting dreamier and dreamier, we’re thrilled to have front-row seats. Having attended every Dreamville since its inception, here’s our hot take.
Best
Surprise Appearances
As if the planned lineup wasn’t star-studded enough, Dreamville Fest really pulled out all the stops with its surprise performers. Screams could not be contained as the likes of Lil Wayne, Lil Uzi Vert and 21 Savage appeared onstage. Now… how will they top it next year?!
The Artists’ Lounge
Raleigh Magazine got the cool op to hang in the Artists’ Lounge to meet and interview a few of the artists, including Lute, Waka Flocka Flame and Mario. When asked about his performance, Waka said: “I didn’t know what I was gonna do, I just went up there and performed. I be up there just fucking partying.” Naturally, festival attendees partied right there with him. “I love North Carolina,” he added. “In the future I’m gonna do a lot in Raleigh.” And we’re ready for it
Local Biz Spotlights
The Dreamville Fest team made sure to spotlight a handful of local businesses in its Raleigh City Guide (think Oro, Five Star, Foundation, Bittersweet and Black Friday Market, to name but a few), spreading the love throughout the city—and showcasing just how amazing Raleigh really is.
Worst
Usher’s April Fools’ Joke
Usher’s performance was epic. Period. NTM the instant gif born of him pouring water over his abs. And Big Ush’s got jokes. And the internet is mad about it. During his performance, Usher paused to intro a surprise appearance from Beyoncé—after which you could hear a pin drop as the insane crowd waited to greet their queen. After what felt like an eternity Usher yelled “April Fools.” (“There’s some things you just shouldn’t joke about”)…
No Bars
Despite the Dreamville Fest team’s efforts to provide better service this year, attendees still struggled to use their phones. Those poor Instagram feeds! NTM attendees’ safety. It was a struggle to get a call or text out—so in the event of an emergency you’d be, well, screwed. Word on the grounds was Verizon users had the worst luck using their phones. … So next year, bring a portable charger!
Uber Crash
Apparently, the Uber app crashed on Saturday night (!), leaving many festivalgoers scrambling to get out of Dix Park. It reportedly got so bad that a bus had to come out and escort people Downtown so they’d at least get off the grounds. Pro tip for next year: Walk Downtown and order an Uber from a bar or restaurant, or arrange a ride home with a friend! We made the trek for the last two years and noticed way more people walking alongside us in 2023. #DreamvilleHike2024—who’s with us?!
Top Raleigh mixologists making guest appearances in Durham throughout April
A select few of our 2022 Best Bars Awards winners (plus a couple of other popular Raleigh watering holes!) are making a special guest appearance in Durham throughout the month of April—and you’re gonna wanna get a sip of the action.
Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club and JB Duke Hotel, both located on Duke University’s campus, have teamed up to host the Be Our Guest Bartender Series, in which top mixologists from the area share signature drinks with the hotels’ guests every Wednesday at the Inn’s Bull Durham Bar and every Thursday at JB Duke Hotel’s Lobby Lounge.
“We are thrilled to offer hotel guests and Durham community residents alike a unique experience to enjoy masterfully crafted limited-edition cocktails in our tranquil, timeless bar spaces,” says Daniel Lotz, area director of operations for the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club and JB Duke Hotel, and hotel manager at the Inn. “The Be Our Guest Bartender Series is designed to celebrate the vibrant food, beverage and hospitality offerings available throughout the Triangle while shining a spotlight on the mixologists elevating the local bar scene and the causes that are most important to them.” Um, we’ll drink to that.
Can’t make those exact dates? You can still get your fill of each bartender’s specialty concoctions at the hotel bars the week following their on-site visits. … And to top it all off, 10% of proceeds from the specialty drink menus will be donated to each bartender’s local nonprofit of choice. Who doesn’t love drinking for a good cause? Cheers!
In honor of DTR Sandwich Week March 27–April 7, here are the Raleigh Mag team’s fave sammies.
No matter how you slice it (personally, I prefer diagonal), there’s no better lunch item than a sandwich. They’re quick and easy to make, can be eaten on the go or at the desk, and come in many different forms. While you could whip up your own at home, during DTR Sandwich Week (now through April 7) we encourage you to go out to the 100+ spots serving lunch Downtown and order up one of their specially crafted housemade sammies. Pro tip: Post your sando on social media during using the hashtag #DTRSandwichWeek to have a sandwich named after you at a participating restaurant (!). Below, Raleigh Mag’s go-to DTR sandwich picks to get you started. Get bready to chow down!
Chicken Club Hero, Capital Club 16 —Gina Stephens, Publisher
