ages and physical abilities. ….
ages and physical abilities.
Mercurio added that movements in boxing, just like with Parkinson’s disease, require good coordination, dynamic movements, and a brain body connection. Observational evidence shows that in addition to weight loss, improved strength and movement, some of the Parkinson’s symptoms may regress with a regular physical activity.
Aside from serving the community with developmental, neurological, and mental limitations, the Huntington Beach Fight Club offers other exercises utilizing free weights, encouraging people to perform unfamiliar, complex movements.
Mercurio ended his presentation with a Q& A session and a boxing demo with the club’s longtime member and instructor assistant, Angela Forney. In 2022, Angela, who is also a certified personal trainer, and her husband, Dave Forney, from Mutual 2, volunteered with the club’s enrollment expansion and have been loyal members ever since.
For more information on the Huntington Beach Fight Club, visit https://hbfightclub. org or call 714-487-2082, or email Kasha Mercurio at kasha@ hbfightclub.org. People can also follow it on Instagram: @ hbfightclubinc.
Johnny Clay and Michelle Sullivan from Apex Homehealth Care Services spoke of the benefits of palliative care and the resources available to older adults that are covered by Medicare. Apex provides convenient and lower cost services including skilled nursing staff, certified home health aide, physical, occupational and speech therapy, nutritional guidance, medical equipment, medical social worker, and pharmacy services. Clay highlighted a correlation between the Apex clients, boxing, and behavioral health, such as depression, that comes with Parkinson’s disease. He noted that people with dementia and Parkinson’s need to keep moving daily to preserve as much functionality as possible. New and repetitive movements used in boxing, dancing, playing ping pong or even singing can make living with Parkinson’s disease easier.
Sullivan added that palliative care is one step before hospice, whereas people can still seek therapy and treatments that hospice won’t cover. In a way, she referred to it as home health on steroids. Every case is managed by a nurse with documented visit and a mutual goal to keep people out of the hospitals.
“The way to mitigate the fear of going to a boxing class is to join the community of people fighting the same fight as you are. It gives you the sense of solidarity and can be very inspiring.”
—Dave Forney, Mutual 2
