CARE Fund is one of Parkinson Canada’s initiatives to help meet the unmet needs of the Parkinson community. It provides funding and grants to organizations developing local health, wellness and educational programs across the country. CARE Fund is especially focused on programs promoting programs that reach diverse and underserved communities across Canada. In the 2025-2026 funding period, ten programs have received funding for their programs ranging from $5,000 to $25,000.  

Check out three of the promising programs that have recently started accepting participants. These programs are vital in our mission to improve access to care. If you live nearby, you may even want to join in! 

Movement Matters: Parkinson’s exercise rehabilitation

Physiotherapy is expensive, and a lot of people living in Canada can’t afford physio services that can make a big difference in their quality of life. Enter Movement Matters. 

This program is a collaboration between Parkinson Canada and Sheridan College to help improve strength, confidence and quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s. The program offers free targeted exercise and rehab sessions for people living with Parkinson’s. Sheridan College students also gain vital real-world experience, experience that they can use to help others with movement disorders.  

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Music and Movement

With funding from Parkinson Canada, Hospice Vaughan has launched a music therapy program to promote the social, emotional, and physical well-being of individuals living with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Through music, instruments, and dance, the program encourages physical activity and provides a safe space for individuals living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers to develop social connections. Unlike traditional dance programs, Music and Movement also incorporates neurologic music therapy, an evidence-based intervention that utilizes elements of music such as rhythm and melody to build or change neuropathways in the brain to enhance overall functioning. 

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Improv for Parkinson’s

Improv for Work & Wellness offer a range of programs using the transformative power of improv to improve wellness and lives. Partnering with Parkinson Canada, they’re now offering Improv for Parkinson’s courses. Through this program, participants learn to accept their Parkinson’s, working on the tools to become more positive and active in their own lives. The program offers two progressive levels of improv, with people who finish both able to join the PD Performance Troupe and participate in public showcases! 

It’s known that exercise slows the progression of Parkinson’s, and these programs seek to exercise the brain by using improvisational theatre to support cognitive health, while exploring themes such as acceptance, presence, celebrating mistakes, and co-creation. 

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What’s next 

Communities across Canada are getting the much needed support they need thanks to CARE Fund. For more information about the program and participating partners, check out the CARE Fund page: https://www.parkinson.ca/care-fund/.

Interested in applying for funding through CARE Fund? Applications for 2026-2027 funding will open later this year, so check back for more information.