MSWA Bulletin Spring 16

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NEWS FROM SOCIAL WELFARE IRENE GALLAGHER (WILLIS), SENIOR SOCIAL/WELFARE OFFICER The MSWA Social Welfare team provides psychosocial interventions that facilitate a Member and their family’s wellbeing. We assist individuals, families and groups experiencing social, emotional or financial difficulties to improve quality of life, by educating and supporting them and working towards change in their social environment. The Social Welfare Department look at what benefits, entitlements and supports are available for Members and their families. What do we do? • Case Management • Advocacy support • Carer Support • Support Coordination of funded NDIS plans • Take and make referrals from various departments where they have identified welfare support is required • At home visits to carry out an assessment. Our goal is to keep people in their own homes for as long as possible and maintain their family relationships We source information and facilitate access to supports including: • Accessing support following an exacerbation of MS • Looking into respite services/residential care/aged care facilities • Arranging funding applications and HACC/ACAT assessments, CAP applications, support in the home • Provide advice on benefits and support for people on low income and how to access these supports • Meet with social workers/other hospital teams to help with planning discharge • Providing carers support • Provide information and direction on financial issues • Information on benefits and entitlements • Signpost to other professionals/organisations to enable the best and most appropriate support The Social Welfare department has been kept very busy keeping up with the increased workload. Our department has now grown to six Social Welfare Officers, including Gerald who is based in Bunbury and is covering the South West. NEW PERTH BUS PORT INFORMATION LINKS The new Perth Bus Port is opening soon. Because of the new queueing system, people with disability might need a bit of extra help to use it. A short information video can be viewed on the Transperth Online YouTube channel here: youtu.be/cMc00yHQVB0. It includes closed captions and an AUSLAN translation. Full details on the opening of Perth Bus Port, including upcoming service changes, can be also found at transperth.wa.gov.au/PerthBusport 16 | MSWA BULLETIN SPRING 2016
muMS GROUP - A SHARED SPACE TO TALK ABOUT MOTHERHOOD AND MS SARAH LORRIMAR, HEALTH EDUCATION AND PEER SUPPORT COORDINATOR The MSWA muMS group is a newly formed support group for women living with MS who are expectant mothers or mothers of babies and children under the age of seven. Held every two months at Heathcote Reserve in Applecross, the group is facilitated by two MSWA Counsellors, Liesl Murdoch and Jean Hudson. Each meeting is semi-structured but the focus is on the mums sharing their experiences with each other. Coming together as a group provides an opportunity for mums living with MS to meet with others living in similar life circumstances. The group members offer support to each other and discuss their concerns, thoughts and feelings. It is also a place to learn new information, not only on parenting but also to share their tips on how they manage MS symptoms that influence their day to day activities. For example, sharing knowledge on fatigue management and meal preparation. The muMS group provides a sense of belonging, reminding Members there are other mums out there living with MS and when needed, mums can draw on this support. To keep in contact between meetings, the mums can be part of a muMS Facebook group that is overseen by one of the group participants. The dynamic group has mums who are both new and experienced, with children aged from infant years through to preschool. This provides a welcome diversity and variety of experiences to be shared. Group members come from across Perth; including Northern and Southern suburbs and out to the Swan Valley. Previous meetings have seen around six to eight mums attend and the group is hoping to expand, warmly welcoming any new Members. To make sure you are updated with upcoming events and groups such as the muMS group, please keep MSWA updated with any new additions to your family to ensure you don’t miss out! If you are interested in coming along to the next muMS group, please contact Sarah Lorrimar on 9365 4858 or Sarah.Lorrimar@mswa.org.au Upcoming meetings Tuesday 18 October, 10am-12pm, Swan House Meeting Room, Heathcote Reserve, Applecross Tuesday 13 December, 10am-12pm, Swan House Meeting Room, Heathcote Reserve, Applecross NEWLY DIAGNOSED SEMINAR SARAH LORRIMAR, PEER SUPPORT AND EDUCATION COORDINATOR On August 11 the Living Well with MS seminar, for people newly diagnosed with MS, was held at The Boulevard Centre in Floreat. These sessions provide an overview of MS and treatments, an introduction to living with MS and the MSWA supports available. Fortunately, the heavy rains didn’t deter people from coming along, with a great turnout of 38 attendees, including some friends and family. Professor Allan Kermode, an MS Neurologist, started the evening off by providing a very informative overview of MS. His presentation explained the different types of MS, symptoms and potential causes of MS which have appeared over time. He also discussed the history of treatments for MS and the range of options available now, including new medications and current research into improving the management of MS. Representatives from the MSWA Nursing, Counselling, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy teams then provided brief summaries of the services available at MSWA. These included services such as fatigue management programs, exercise programs, massage, education and various therapy options…just to name a few! The seminar was a wonderful opportunity for people to meet others living a similar experience whilst being able to receive useful and valid information from informed health professionals. If you would like to attend the next Newly Diagnosed Seminar or would like any further information for yourself or someone you know, please contact 9365 4888. MSWA BULLETIN SPRING 2016 | 17
Page 1 and 2: BULLETIN THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF M
Page 3 and 4: Letter from the Editor DR GREG BROT
Page 5 and 6: A message from the General Manager
Page 7 and 8: Just one in 1,000 people with MS ha
Page 9 and 10: That certainly seems a more compreh
Page 11 and 12: Eating Well Healthy eating and an a
Page 13 and 14: DR GOOGLE - TO BELIEVE OR NOT TO BE
Page 15: PURCHASING EQUIPMENT? WE RECOMMEND
Page 19 and 20: ut depending on the approach, the e
Page 21 and 22: ANYWHERE WITH COLIN ROS HARMAN, SUP
Page 23 and 24: Don’t let a little dispute injure
Page 25 and 26: FUNDRAISING ROUNDUP MEGA HOME LOTTE
Page 27 and 28: I would also like to thank all the
Page 29 and 30: SOUTH WEST Regional Round Up The la
Page 31 and 32: ALBANY OUTREACH NEWS CAROLINE CLARK

MSWA Bulletin Spring 16

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