Specialized therapy program at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary focuses on improving speech, swallowing, and mobility for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
(PRUnderground) January 7th, 2026
Patients with Parkinson’s disease are finding help through a specialized therapy program at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital.
Lori Raisler, a speech pathologist at Holy Rosary Hospital, leads a program which focuses on improving speech, swallowing, and mobility for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. After completing individual sessions, patients are able to join group therapy to foster camaraderie and continued progress.
“My favorite group to work with in grad school was Parkinson’s patients,” Raisler said. “This program is a great way to help our friends with Parkinson’s with their speech and their swallowing, as well as their gait, because we work on speaking with intent, swallowing with intent, and walking with intent.”
The research-based therapy program was developed specifically for people with Parkinson’s and related disorders. The program helps patients strengthen their voices, improve communication, and address motor skills.
Raisler’s approach emphasizes practical strategies that patients can continue to practice at home or with the support of family. “I would like to see them improve their quality of life, which is completely possible with Parkinson’s,” she said. “They may continue to have challenges, but we can prevent some of that, and it can be just absolutely night and day difference in how they walk and talk.”
The group sessions provide a supportive environment for patients to practice together and share experiences.
“It gives them support and they do competitions together sometimes,” Raisler said. “One of my patients told me, ‘I don’t know anybody else with Parkinson’s around here,’ and this group helps them connect.”
While Raisler is primarily serving patients from Miles City and surrounding communities, she hopes to build a robust outreach, potentially including online group options for those unable to attend in person after they complete the initial individual appointments.
For those who are interested in the program, they can speak to their primary care provider about a referral or call Holy Rosary Hospital at 406-233-2719 for further information.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, over 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/. For more information, see intermountainhealth.org/ or call 801-442-2000.
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