Get acquainted with our team members - Stacey Foster is included in the lineup.
Stacey Foster, a graduate of Sports Management, has joined Parkinson's NSW as the Support Group Coordinator, transitioning from the for-profit sector to a role in the healthcare not-for-profit sector.
Prior to her new position, Stacey spent four years at Cerebral Palsy Alliance, where she worked as a Sport Development Coordinator, providing various sports and recreation options for individuals of all abilities. She then moved to One Disease Limited, an Australian organization focusing on eliminating crusted scabies. During her five-year tenure, she climbed through a series of increasingly senior roles, culminating in the Position of Project and Communication Communicator.
At Parkinson's NSW, Stacey is responsible for managing and growing the network of over 40 in-person and 15 online Support Groups. She expresses priorities in her new role as helping the Groups maintain their plans and finances, fostering connections across the network, and planning for leadership succession within the teams.
In her personal life, Stacey is a mother to two boys aged 3 and 7. In her infrequent moments of free time, she enjoys reading and online High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) programs.
Careful management of several factors is essential to ensure optimal absorption of Parkinson's drugs, such as levodopa and other dopaminergic medications. High-protein meals can interfere with the absorption of levodopa, so patients are advised to take the drug either before or after meals. Light, low-protein meals are less likely to interfere with medication absorption. Excessive Vitamin B6 intake may counteract levodopa effectiveness, although this is less common with combined levodopa/carbidopa preparations.
Constipation, a common issue in Parkinson's patients, can delay gastric emptying and, subsequently, drug absorption. Management may involve increasing fiber, fluids, and regular exercise. In some cases, laxatives may be necessary. Slow gastric emptying can be addressed with prokinetic agents or by adjusting drug timing and formulation.
For patients with swallowing difficulties, switching to dispersible or liquid formulations administered via nasogastric tube may be considered. Sublingual (under the tongue) administration of crushed levodopa tablets can facilitate rapid absorption and avoid the gastrointestinal tract. Alternative routes, such as transdermal patches (for certain dopamine agonists), may be used for patients who cannot take oral medications.
Certain drugs can bind with Parkinson's medications, reducing their absorption. Careful review of all medications and their timings is essential to maintain effectiveness. Clinical review and multidisciplinary team involvement can help manage swallowing difficulties and nutritional needs for optimal absorption and symptom control.
- Stacey Foster, in her new role at Parkinson's NSW, aims to foster connections across the network of support groups, which include discussions on health-and-wellness, parenting, mental-health, and fitness-and-exercise, to help members maintain a holistic approach to their condition.
- The care and management of Parkinson's patients not only involve the administration of science-backed medications like levodopa but also consideration of factors such as diet, fitness, and mental health to ensure optimal drug absorption and overall wellness.
- Support groups could prove beneficial for Parkinson's patients seeking guidance in managing their condition, navigating career transitions – as showcased by Stacey Foster's moving from the for-profit sector to healthcare not-for-profit – and handling the unique challenges that come with parenting while living with the disease.
