Caregiver Teleconnection

Elaine Book, MSW, RSW
Ms. Book has worked in the field of Social Work for over 30 years in a variety of community and hospital settings with an interest in the geriatric population. She has worked with individuals, families and as a leader of support groups. She is the Center Coordinator and Clinic Social Worker for the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre, a PF Center of Excellence, at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She has become a leader in the PD community, serving as a speaker at support groups, a presenter at neurology meetings, a faculty member and Co-ordinator of the Allied Team Training Program, mentor with the Parkinson Foundation, planning committee member of the World Parkinson Congress (2016,2019, 2022) and a member of the Parkinson Canada Medical Advisory Council. She is also a Clinical Instructor in the Faculty of Medicine in the division of Neurology at the University of British Columbia. She has also been active in research projects focusing on coping with Parkinson’s Disease, caregivers of people with Parkinson’s Disease and the role of social work in providing care to people with Parkinson’s Disease. Ms. Book also coordinates a blog designed for neurological social workers and has a special interest in raising awareness and developing resources for people with Parkinson’s disease and their children/teens. Ms. Book earned her B.S.W. from the University of Manitoba and her M.S.W. from the University of British Columbia, with her thesis focusing on caregiver stress. She has continued to expand her training throughout her career, including cognitive behavioral therapy, advance care planning and social work instruction.