LINKS Teleconference Series:
9 Opportunities to Learn More about MS from the Comfort of Your Home
We are pleased to present a series of teleconferences for clients with MS and their families entitled “LINKS.” Whether you just received a diagnosis of MS or have been living with it for a long time--the goal of this series is to “link” you with information and tips on how to maintain your quality of life in the years ahead.
Each call lasts just one hour.
To request an audio recording of any of the following calls, please contact the Chapter office at 1-800-FIGHTMS.
Health Insurance: Your Rights and Responsibilities
People with MS and their families know that health insurance is one of their most important life lines. But confusion about health insurance, from employer-based health plans to Medicaid and other government-based coverage, is common. This call will provide an overview of the major sources of health coverage for people with MS, with an emphasis on your rights and responsibilities as covered individuals.
Guest Speaker: Kim Calder is the Director of Federal Health Affairs and Insurance Policy for the National MS Society. She leads efforts to promote access to quality MS care and optimal benefits for people with MS in health, disability, and other forms of insurance. Prior to joining the MS Society's national office in New York in 2003, her career focused on advocacy and government relations in the cancer community. She has previously held public policy positions at Cancer Care, Inc., the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations and the American Cancer Society. Ms. Calder holds a Masters of Policy Studies degree from The New School for Social Research in New York City.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
Mental Gymnastics: The Power of the Mind to Hurt & Heal
From time to time, we’ve all been held ransom by those nagging thoughts that keep us up at night and just won’t fade. Join this call as we explore how what we think affects both our emotional and physiological states, ultimately leading to better and worse states of health or illness. Discussion will also touch on how emotional intelligence—the ability to identify, assess, tolerate, express, and effectively manage difficult emotions— results in a higher quality of life and an improved state of well-being.
Guest Speaker: Diane Dean, RN-BC, LPC, NCC, CEG, owns Epiphany! Counseling & Wellness Center in Murrysville, PA, a Highmark Preventive Health Alliance Site. She is a registered nurse, licensed counselor, Reiki Master and professionally-trained coach. Diane has 20+ years in healthcare, has studied energy psychology, and has taught at several universities and colleges including the University of Pittsburgh.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
Improving Your Lifestyle through Financial Planning
Maintaining financial security is a high priority for people living with an unpredictable disease like MS. This teleconference will discuss financial planning strategies by beginning with the end goal in mind. The discussion will include: assessing your income versus expenses, reallocating resources, benefits that are available through the government and employers, as well as resources for further information.
Guest Speakers:
Dick Bell is the owner of Bell Financial in Calabasas, CA. He has a M.S. in Financial Services from The American College. He also holds five professional designations that include Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant. He is a founder of the Financial Education Partners (FEP) program where members of Financial Service Professionals provide pro bono financial counseling to people referred to them by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He serves as the national director of FEP and has personally provided financial counseling to over 150 individuals with multiple sclerosis.
Silvia Stazio is a financial planner with Sagemark Consulting/Lincoln Financial Advisors located in Vienna, VA. She is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, and heads the Financial Education Partners program for members of the National Capital Chapter. She lives in Bethesda, MD where she frequently volunteers for the Bethesda Urban Partnership and the National Capital Area Glass Guild.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
MS & Depression
Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease that can affect the mind, as well as the body. With an estimated 50% of people with MS experiencing a major depressive episode at some point, it is evident that MS can cause significant emotional changes. Join us on this call as we address factors that can impact your emotions and outline depression vs. normal grieving, symptoms of clinical depression, and treatment options.
Guest Speaker: J. Lamar Freed, Psy. D. is a psychologist practicing in the Philadelphia, PA area. He received his professional training at Hahnemann University, graduating in 1989. Dr. Freed started his private practice in 1992, one year before his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis. His work focuses on helping those living with an illness understand how to manage emotional changes and improve functioning. In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Freed volunteers for the National MS Society as the leader of a monthly men's support group and as coordinator of monthly Delaware Valley self-help group leader conference calls. He lives with his wife and three cats in Elkins Park, PA.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
At Home with MS: Adapting Your Environment
MS symptoms can make everyday activities more challenging—but an endless array of mobility aids, adaptive strategies, and environmental modifications are available to help you stay mobile, productive, and independent at home. Listen to this call as we discuss how to improve your house or apartment to make it more accessible, as well as ways to organize to conserve energy and simplify work.
Guest Speaker: Marnie Renda OTR/L, CAPS, an Independent Living Specialist, is the founder of Destination Home LLC. This Cincinnati, OH based company is dedicated to helping elders and persons with disabilities continue to live in the comfort of their homes. Marnie graduated from Lafayette College with a BA in Psychobiology and Springfield College with a Master of Education in Occupational Therapy. She has 20 years experience working in health clinics, community care, skilled nursing homes and hospitals. She has, also, worked as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist for many years. Recently, Marnie earned an Executive Certificate in Home Modifications through the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications at the University of Southern California. She is an adjunct professor at Xavier University and Cincinnati State Technical College educating future occupational therapy practitioners on home modifications and assistive technology.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
Pain in MS
Pain syndromes are common in MS. In one study, 55% of people with MS had “clinically significant pain” at some time and almost half (48%) were troubled by chronic pain. This call will help you to understand the nature of pain in MS, discuss pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain management strategies, and explore self-management models of pain management.
Guest Speaker: Heidi Maloni is the National Clinical Nursing Director of the Veterans Affairs MS Center of Excellence in Washington, DC. She is a certified adult nurse practitioner, a certified neuroscience registered nurse and MS certified nurse. She has volunteered with the National MS Society for over 18 years. On a national level, Heidi has served as a presenter, on committees, and as an expert on pain and MS. She has been quoted in the National MS Society’s magazine Momentum and has worked with the Society to develop materials for the Professional Resource Center.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
Walking with MS: Fighting the Consequences of MS on Mobility
Problems with gait (difficulty in walking) are among the most common mobility limitations in MS. Studies suggest that half the people with relapsing-remitting MS will need some assistance with walking within 15 years of their diagnosis. Learn about the factors that lead to walking limitations in MS and the consequences of decreased mobility. We will also provide an overview of how walking can be assessed, to track its evolution over time, and to determine the effects of treatments. Lastly, we will explain the various therapies and devices that can help improve or maintain walking performance throughout the course of the disease.
Guest Speaker: Francois Bethoux, MD serves as the Director of Rehabilitation Services at the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center in Ohio. Dr. Bethoux completed a Neuroimmunology fellowship at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research (affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation). His research interests include outcomes measurements in both general and multiple sclerosis specific neurorehabilitation, gait analysis and evaluation of symptomatic therapies, and rehabilitative interventions for spasticity in MS and other disorders of the central nervous system.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
Care Options–When Help is Needed
As your symptoms change, it is important to know what options are available to you and your family to help maintain your independence while also ensuring your needs are met. This teleconference will focus on the differences and benefits of in-home care, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, respite care, and adult day programs and how to determine which option is best for you and your family.
Guest Speaker: Lisa Hollier is a Certified Senior Advisor and President of Choice Connections of Richmond, VA. Lisa is a graduate of the University of Richmond and has extensive experience helping families identify the best-fit communities for those who need help with daily activities. Lisa has been an active member of the Rotary Club for 20 years and she and her family are involved in numerous volunteer projects.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
MS Research Update
Research in MS is progressing at a remarkable rate, with more potential therapies in the pipeline than at any other time in history. The National MS Society is a driving force of MS research, supporting and stimulating world-class research into ways to prevent, better treat and cure this unpredictable disease. Join us and learn how far we’ve come, where we’re going, and what the Society and others are doing to move toward a world free of MS.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Jason Silversteen is a board certified neurologist specializing in MS. He works with the Neurology group at Christiana Care Specialists in Newark, DE and is the Director of the Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Center. He completed his medical training at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and his neurological training at Hahnemann University Hospital/Drexel College of Medicine. Dr. Silversteen was a National Multiple Sclerosis Fellow and completed training at The University of Texas Southwestern MS Center under the teaching of Dr. Elliot Frohman. He is currently the Chair of the National MS Society, Delaware Chapter’s Clinical Advisory Committee. His research interests lie in the areas of neuro-regeneration and symptomatic management of MS.
Click below to listen to the recording of this call:
Handouts:
The following National MS Society websites/brochures may also be useful:
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