MS Green House® Promises a True Home with Skilled Care
People with MS who need life-long, skilled care will soon have another alternative to traditional nursing facilities. The new concept, called a “Green House®”, provides a true home where people live in intentional communities with competent, consistent, well-trained caregivers, restoring them to lives rich in autonomy, dignity, and choice.
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| Artist's rendering of the Green House central gathering room Virtual Tour on YouTube |
The first urban Green House® in the country is under construction at the Leonard Florence Center for Living (LFCL), which is owned and operated by the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home in Chelsea, Mass., a well-established and highly respected non-profit organization providing care since 1919.
The Central New England Chapter, in response to input from our members, committed financial and programmatic support for the development of an ‘MS Green House’ at the LFCL to accommodate 10 individuals with multiple sclerosis. They’ll each have private, accessible bedrooms and bathrooms; dine family-style on home-cooked food they can order from the in-home kitchen as they wish; socialize in a central gathering room with a fireplace; and enjoy outside courtyards with lush vegetation.
Each resident will have an assistive technology package custom designed by a senior engineering student at UMass Lowell, under the supervision of a professor. Options include computer “command centers” on wheelchairs (usable by hand or eye) that regulate climate, open and close doors, call the elevator, order a drink or snack, or send a text message to attendants.
The Chapter will be involved in staff training, selection of residents, and assurance of quality of care and supports. The average age of MS residents will be younger than traditional facilities. The selection process will focus on individuals who want to continue to be active and to take advantage of technology.
Interested persons with MS should contact the MS Green House Hotline at the chapter by calling 800-493-9255 ext. 198. We look forward to January 2010 when the first residents move in!
MS Auto Rally
On June 14, 2009, Sunday drivers, auto enthusiasts, and casual motorists navigate the country-side of the Hopkinton State Park area in Massachusetts during the first ever MS Auto Rally to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Central New England Chapter. Driving any street legal vehicle, participants enter as a team comprised of at least a driver and a navigator, with a minimum fundraising commitment of $500, plus a $25 registration fee for each member, including additional passengers as seat belts allow.
Organized by the National MS Society and Scenic Road Rallies, the start and finish are located in Hopkinton State Park. Check-in is at 9 a.m., with a ‘Tech’ meeting at 9:45 a.m. for safety and directions, and the official start is 10 a.m. Approximately 50 miles, the untimed course takes three hours to drive, including three pit stops, as it winds along the seldom traveled back roads of South Central Massachusetts, and reveals hidden treasures that few take the time to see.
Join the Rally at www.MSnewengland.org, and take advantage of ePledging and a personal web page where you can tell your story, post a photo, and track donations. For information, sponsorship, or to volunteer, contact Todd Krohne at MSAutoRally@mam.nmss.org or 1-800-344-4867.
Walk MS 2009 Presented by MS LifeLines, a Huge Success
The National MS Society, Central New England Chapter held 18 Walks which took place this spring all across Massachusetts and New Hampshire and involved walkers and teams of family members and coworkers who banded together in a sea of orange t-shirts to walk to end MS.
More than 8,300 walkers registered for Walk MS, and will raise nearly $2 million. Eighty-five (85) percent of monies raised by the Chapter fund vital MS education, support, advocacy, and research.
There is still time to participate in Walk MS by registering for our final walk on September 27th in the Berkshires or by donating at MSnewengland.org. Join the movement and walk to end MS!