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The Start of the Summer Daize
MSQLP's e-newsletter June edition
From the President      

At the end of May, Grant and I spent an exciting 4 days in Orlando at the Consortium of MS Centers annual meeting. We learned many new things and we will be sharing what we learned at the support groups this month. As a CMSC faculty member, I presented a case study as part of a symposia (Case Management with the Challenging Patient: A Skills-Based Interactive Dialogue) with 4 other social workers from around the country. We also involved Grant in the presentations. This was Grant's 2nd Consortium and my 8th. We also presented a poster about our 2 family workshops titled "Beyond MS: A Workshop for Families Living with Multiple Sclerosis".

 

We are happy to report MSQLP's poster won a huge award - the IOMSN (International Organization of MS Nurses) Linda Margante Hope Award. Linda Margante was a nurse who was dedicated to working with people with MS and this award was established in her name. It has strict criteria and is voted on by a committee of nurses. I was very surprised to say the least! Pictures will be up on MSQLP's Facebook page.

I want to thank everyone who attended MSQLP's family workshops. Marilyn Howell, Angie Carretta, Grant Helm, and Carrieanna Hess helped develop and put on the program. Osiris Salgado and Janelle Delgado both assisted during the workshops. The first program was sponsored by Biogen Idec and the second by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

 

Sincerely,

 

Andrea Dowdall

Board President

Program Supervisor  

Upcoming Events
(click the underlined topics for more info)

Monday's from 5:30-7:30pm
Classes start July 1st and end August 19th
Registration is open now!  
Contact Tara Reed at 408.988.7587 ext: 74102 for an application. 
 

MSQLP's 7th Annual Walk 'n Roll 

SAVE THE DATE: September 14th, 2013
Register/Check-In: 9:30AM
Start Time: 10AM

El Estero Park 

777 Pearl Street
Monterey, CA 93940 93940 

 

Support Groups
Salinas Support Group
Friday, June 21st  11AM-1PM
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital
Downing Resource Center- Room A

Monterey Support Group
Saturday, June 15th   11AM-1PM
MSQLP Office- 519B Hartnell St.
 
Both support group meetings will share information that was discussed at the international Consortium of MS Centers meeting that occurred May 29th-June 1st.

Water Aerobics
Mondays & Wednesdays 12am-1pm
@ Monterey Sports Center
Spotlight on the MSQLP Support Group
A special entry from Tammy Jennings, a MSQLP Board Member living with MS.

My first thought was...WOW!  My second thought was...thank you, thank you, thank you volunteers, Conservation Corps, and Pt. Lobos staff for making the handicap accessible trails!  I thought I'd never be able to experience the wonder and awe of
Pt. Lobos again.  But now we all can!  I had an unforgettable time.  The weather was perfect...the scenery breath-taking...and our docent/guide (Larry Swank) was extremely knowledgeable and patient.  Thank you Larry.
The whole MS support group went on the "Bird Island Trail".
 
MSQLP Group at Point Lobos 

 

What can I say...unbelievable beauty and playful sea lions; what a wonderful combination.  Add to that, the colors of the crystal clear water... it was truly spectacular! China Cove, Point Lobos

We passed at least 4 artists along the trail trying to capture its picturesque beauty.

 

As we went further down the trail towards Bird Island, we passed another 2 beaches and a multitude of wild flowers.

When we arrived at our destination, Docent Larry's knowledge of the diverse gathering of birds on Bird Island made the trip that much better and educational.

 

After the group made its way back to the beginning, MSQLP had lunch for us. What a perfect ending to a perfect day. Thank you.

 

 

Although the MS group walk was over, I was having such a terrific time that I went on the other two handicap accessible trails:  "Sea Lion Point and Sand Hill" and "Whalers Cove and Cabin."  They both were unbelievably beautiful, but each had its own amenities.

 

 

The Sea Lion Point and Sand Hill Trail had beauty and a diverse number of wild life species including sea lions, birds, sea otters and young Homo sapiens. (Watching the children having so much fun made my experience exponentially better.)

Whalers Cove and Cabin, on the other hand, was serene and thought-provoking, as well as educational and beautiful.  I learned so much history from the docent at the Whalers Cabin. I truly enjoyed it and recommend it highly.

 

The whole experience, in my opinion, was FABULOUS!  I will definitely be going back, again and again.

A special thanks to Grant Helm for organizing the outing, and to MSQLP & MSF for funding it.

This write-up was featured on the
 

(F.Y.I. - Disabled families can get a 50% State Parks Discount Card free from the California Parks office on Garden Road in Monterey.  It is accepted  at all of the California State Parks.)

Did You Know?
Funding for respite care.

 

Being able to cope with the strains and stresses of being a Caregiver is part of the art of Caregiving.
Even though many families take great joy in providing care to their loved ones so that they can remain at home, the physical, emotional and financial consequences for the family caregiver can be overwhelming without some support, such as respite care. With respite care programs, a temporary professional caregiver is assigned to visit the regular caregiver's home, and get to know the care receiver in his or her normal environment. The temporary caregiver learns the family routine, allowing the family caregiver to take a break and/or vacation from the household.

Did you know there are MS specific resources to help with respite care funding? The resources below are provided to MS families only and can prove beneficial in a time of need. Click on each resource to review the program criteria.

NMSS Financial Assistance Program

MSF Homecare Program


 If you would like to inquire about any of these resources please call the MSQLP office at 831-333-9091. 
MSQLP Website
Make a Donation

$30
will fund outreach services for one client.

$70 will fund one water aerobics class.
$100 will fund a HouseCall for a client.
Click on iGive logo for details!
Benefit MSQLP just through shopping online!

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Tip of the Month-
Spring Cleaning: A Time to Declutter
A compilation of information from MS LifeStyle and research done NY Univsersity Hospital.

Clutter management is an important area for people with MS to address because it can significantly impact function, safety, and quality of life of of the MS individual. Clutter promotes confusion and it places MS residents at a higher risk of falling, losing medications, and misplacing important documents.

Clearing out clutter within the house is a process than can often parallel a clearing of mind and thought. But where do you start? A critical component of decluttering your home is to begin the cleaning process incrementally.
But what does this mean?

Decluttering is most succesfull when you clean up the residence day-by-day. It is not recommended to try to declutter the house in one day. Trying to eliminate clutter too rapidly can cause anxiety and prevent long-term progress.

Steps to success:

1)Make time!
15 minutes a day keeps the clutter away!

2)Prioritize your cleaning efforts.

3)Set easy and accomplishable goals everyday.

3)Sort your cleaning efforts: Trash/Sell Storage/Keep

4)Declutter.

You will be rewarded with a cleaner & safer home. Studies indicate reducing clutter gives the resident a greater sense of self control and accomplishment.

Ready to start your own decluttering project? Get your family involved and begin the work. The peace of mind that decluttering brings, might make for a happier you! 
Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Project
519B Hartnell Street
Monterey, California 93940
831.333.9091
msqlp@sbcglobal.net
of  Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Project
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