The Field Officer Service

There are 32 Field Officers across New Zealand. They provide education, information and help people make informed decisions about living with Parkinson’s.

Field officers can provide:

• Home visits.  These can provide reassurance, advice and practical help on living with Parkinson’s. Your Field Officer can give evidence based information about Parkinson’s and support for the person with Parkinson’s, their family, and/or carers.  
• Support groups. Need to talk to others about how you’re feeling or get advice from someone who’s coping with a similar situation to yours?  Division support groups are co-ordinated by Field Officers and include speakers, information, and the opportunity to meet other families affected by Parkinson’s.
• Referrals. Your Field Officer can give advice about referrals to other community health professionals as appropriate such as physiotherapists, speech therapists, counsellors and occupational therapists.
• Advice on monitoring of medication.  Parkinson’s medication requirements are unique to each individual. Your Field Officer can help with information about managing side effects, ‘on and off’ periods, sleep problems and depression.
• General advice.  Need a hand rail installed and don’t know how to go about it? Or want to know about home help or financial support? Ask your Field Officer where to start.
• Social activities. Ask your Field Officer about social activities that may be available in your area, these can include dinners, coffee mornings, walking groups, bowls, exercise groups and outings.
• Exercise and other therapies. Your Field Officer can let you know what programmes for people with Parkinson’s are available in your area such as exercise, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, art therapy sessions.
• Educational seminars. Your Field Officer can inform you of upcoming Parkinson’s educational seminars which provide access to a variety of speakers including neurologists, Parkinson’s researchers, pharmacists, speech therapists and physiotherapists.

For more information see our Field Officer pamphlet. To contact your local Field Officer, see our division pages.