Parkinson's Support Groups Online: A Global Option When There's Nothing Near You

If you've ever typed "Parkinson's support group near me" and come up empty, you are in very good company. Local groups are wonderful when they exist — but they are unevenly distributed, often daytime-only, and frequently paused. Family caregivers, especially those who can't leave home, get left out.

Why online Parkinson's support groups are different

An online Parkinson's support group removes the two biggest barriers: geography and time zones. A daughter caring for her father in Tokyo can sit beside (well, on a screen beside) a spouse caregiver in Ohio and a young carer in Nairobi — people who would never otherwise meet, who understand each other instantly.

What to look for in an online group

• Built for family caregivers specifically, not only for people with the diagnosis — the needs are different.
• Small, facilitated sessions where everyone can speak.
• Free, with no sales agenda.
• Inclusive of both Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia — many families live between the two.
• Welcoming of any country and any age, including young carers.

PiaPia: a free, global Parkinson family community

PiaPia is exactly this. A nonprofit global community for family caregivers of people living with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. Free online meetups in small groups, one-on-one peer matching, and an annual Global Summer Camp. Membership is free, and members receive meetup invitations by email.

The room may be virtual. The relief is not.

If there's no Parkinson's support group near you — or no hour in your week when you could reach one — we made this one for you.