Upcoming Events
(click orange text for more event info or flyer)
3PM to 4:30PM
Sally Griffin Center- Pacific Grove
MSQLP's Walk 'n Roll Fundraiser Saturday, September 26th
10AM to 2:30PM
Laguna Grande Park - Seaside
Click the title to visit the official fundraising page!
MSQLP Support Groups
MS Salinas Support Group Meeting
Friday, August 21st
11AM to 1PM
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital:
Downing Resource Center- Room A
MS Monterey Support Group Meeting
Saturday, August 22nd
11AM to 1PM
MSQLP office - 519B Hartnell St.
Water Aerobics Program
Mondays & Wednesdays
12-1pm @ Monterey Sports Center
This program is offered free to families living with MS or Parkinson's.
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Spotlight on Wanda Vollmer, MSQLP Program Aide
By Grant Helm, Executive Director/Client Services Supervisor
MSQLP is pleased to announce a new staff member, Wanda Vollmer. Wanda has joined MSQLP as a Program Aide to serve our clients. With her experience working with the MS community, she brings a lot to the table and is a great addition to our small team!
Wanda comes to MSQLP from the American Red Cross where she created a Preparedness Program for Monterey and San Benito counties reaching thousands with the message of safety and readiness. Through Disaster Preparedness Education she reached adults, seniors and youth. She is currently a Board Member for Action Council of Monterey Council and volunteer for the SPCA of Monterey County. She also worked on a multitude of activities from fundraising to contract work for several nonprofit organizations including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Soles4Souls, and the Salvation Army. Vollmer studied Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Business Administration at University of Denver.
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Wanda Vollmer, Program Aide
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Wanda will work with client services and fundraising development. "My husband calls me a bleeding heart," said Wanda, recounting how her family has always had an open door for people in need. "I've always incorporated some sort of philanthropy in my work. It's nice to have a job where I can give back."
Wanda is currently operating our Quarterly Client Check-in Calls, so I am sure many of you readers will be acquainted with her soon! Wanda's office hours are Mondays through Wednesdays 12PM to 4PM.
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Tip of the Month
Stimulating Hobbies
By Wanda Vollmer, Program Aide
Having a disease that affects you physically like MS or PD can wear on your spirits at times, especially when you have nothing else to think about. However, regular activity can break this negativity by entertaining and healing your mind.
The course of your disease will fluctuate and this can make it difficult to keep up with a hobby, but once you identify one or more hobbies that speak to you, you will be able to pick up right where you left off if you need to take a break. It's tough to know where living with MS or Parkinson's may lead you, so be open to one or more hobbies that stimulate you. Your best hobby will be something that fits your capabilities and lifts your spirits.
Remember to respect your physical limits but activate your creativity and challenge your mind.
Here are a few suggestions to consider:
- Gardening - Planting a flower or herb in a pot.
- Painting - Visit a craft store, endless possibilities.
- Knitting/crocheting - pleasantly distracting and various ways depending on your dexterity.
- Photography - Plenty of subjects on the Monterey Peninsula.
- Mild to moderate exercise - try our Free Water Aerobic Program at the Monterey Sports Center.
- Refurbishing - visit flea markets, yard sales or thrift stores for objects that can be updated or re-purposed.
YouTube has a multitude of free videos teaching hobbies. Head there once you picked your hobby or are in need of ideas. Despite MS or Parkinson's, you are capable of learning something new, enhancing your growth and enjoyment. By discovering a new hobby you can increase your quality of life.
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Did You Know?
Community Resource Guides
By Osiris Salgado, Case Manager
This year's (2015-2016) Best of Monterey Bay: Senior Resource Guide was recently published. This is a vital and sought after guide that can be useful for everyone, not just seniors. This publication's purpose is to assist the Monterey County community by providing the most comprehensive outline on information of services, resources, and activities in the Monterey County so that residents can make well informed life decisions and find the resources they need. Programs and services that can improve the quality of life for those living with Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson's disease can be found within the pages of this guide. Some of these include counseling services, employment services, home care services, family caregiver support services, transportation services, all local to Monterey. If you would like to obtain a copy of this year's resource guide, give us a call!
Live in Santa Cruz County?
Senior Network Services publishes a similar handbook that contains services local to Santa Cruz County. They even publish the material online at:
SeniorNetworkServices.org
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Now is the time to...
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Website:
Our Mission:
The Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Project (MSQLP) recognizes that people living with chronic illness have unmet needs. MSQLP is committed to filling these gaps by improving the quality of life of persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the tri-county area of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito. Our programs serve families living with Parkinson's disease (PD) in Monterey County. We work with clients and their families to create comprehensive individual plans and programs that support client independence.
All of our services are free.
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Benefit MSQLP just through shopping online:
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Click on logo for details!
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MSQLP's Equipment Closet
By Grant Helm, Executive Director/Client Services Supervisor
Below is a list of mobility devices and equipment for that is stored by MSQLP and available for loan:
3 three-wheel scooters
1 powerchair
1 portable AC unit
You can view pictures of this available equipment for donation by clicking here.
MSQLP also has access to or inventory of various equipment such as canes, walkers, and toilet seats.
To inquire about the list of available equipment for loan, please call
831-333-9091.
We need volunteer drivers!
Call our office at
831-333-9091. Mileage reimbursement included!
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Amy's Corner
Reawakening of Hope
Amy Lamb Heckel RDH
I recently celebrated my two month anniversary of being both fall and cane free. Why? How? As you know, one can never be sure with MS. In the ever continuing struggle to live the best life possible with MS, I am constantly attempting to make logical sense of my symptom variations. When things improve not only am I pleased, but I also seek to form some idea of why. So what changed?
Though I think the MS medication I am on is fantastic, I have been on it for over seven years so this recent change in my symptoms seems unlikely to be the result of that alone. My exercise and diet regimens have remained constant. I have not been seeing a physical therapist. So what is it? The one significant difference is that I have been part of a study evaluating the benefits of hypnotherapy for MS. I learned of this study through your friend and mine, Grant, of MSQLP. I had never even considered hypnotherapy before.
The results have been lovely. My neurologist even doubled the interval until my next check-up! Even though this is not an advertisement, I want to offer the disclaimer often heard on financial programs, "Past performance is no guarantee of future results." I ask you to remember two things 1) this is only my story and 2) hypnotherapy is not magic. You must invest effort to apply the tools you will learn from your hypnotherapist. I just wanted to share my experience of hypnotherapy with this readership on the off chance that someone else may experience a reawakening of hope.
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Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Project
519B Hartnell Street
Monterey, California 93940
831.333.9091
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on GuideStar and help us grow!
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