Saskatoon Chapter Newsletter

Transcription

1 Saskatoon Chapter Newsletter Saskatoon MS Wellness Support Group Spring 2009 Edition The MS Wellness Group continues to meet on the last Thursday of each month at W.A. Edwards Family Centre (333-4th Avenue N) at 7:00 pm for group discussions, learning opportunities, sharing and peer support. Newcomers and newly diagnosed individuals, are always welcome and are encouraged to attend support group meetings of their choice. Bring your friends, family and enjoy the outing! The next meetings will be held on: February 26 th TBA March 26 th Reiki April 30 th TBA For more information contact Cassie at Saskatoon Caregiver Support Group For those individuals who provide emotional support and/or practical assistance to an adult family member or friend. Information and support are given around the caregiver experience. This support group is provided at no cost and is a safe atmosphere with professional facilitators Meetings are held Wednesdays from March 4 th April 15 th from 1:30 4:00 pm. If you have any questions or would like to register please contact Jeanne at or Karen at Hosted by Saskatoon Health Region Community Service Our Mission To be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life. Inside this Issue: Aqua Fitness 2 Strength Training 2 Registered Disability Savings Plan 3 Laughter Yoga 3 Adult & Children's Recreation Subsidy 3 Job Fair 4 Special Assistance Funding Program 4 Kid s, Teen s and Parent s Websites 4 Women s Wellness Session 5 MS Research Luncheon 5 New Resources 6 MS Carnation Campaign 6 MS Comedy Night 7 Chronic Pain Centre 7 MS Clinic in Saskatoon 7 Mark Your Calendar 7 Planned Giving and Staff Contacts 8

2 MS Society of Canada, Saskatoon Chapter 2008/2009 Recreational and Fitness Opportunities Come join other people with MS to exercise and socialize! All interested individuals must pre-register by calling Cassie at , prior to attending their first session (s). Please register for EACH separate program that you choose to attend. We are gearing up for our Spring program season now, but remember, newcomers are always welcome! Please call, if you require further information about any of our available programs. Reminder no classes on long weekends! Registration is April 7 at 9:30am with classes from April 13 June 25. Individuals requiring assistance must bring an attendant to each class. Aqua Fitness Strength Training Spring Registration Day: April 7 Mondays: 11:15 am to 12:00 noon Location: YWCA (510, 25th Street East) Our Aqua Fitness Program involves gentle water movement. Participants need not know how to swim to enjoy this class, but should be comfortable in waist-to-chest deep water. Exercise in water offers the benefit of buoyancy to assist in mobility challenges and provides gentle resistance to movement to improve strength and flexibility. Come join our water fun and get the benefits of movement, exercise, and participation as a bonus! Spring Registration Day: April 7 Tuesdays: 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm Wednesdays: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursdays: 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm Location: YWCA (510, 25th St. East) Individuals are encouraged to work at their own pace in a safe and supervised weight room environment. Volunteers and a qualified exercise instructor are present to lead and assist participants in an appropriate, client specific, exercise routines. Individuals work at their own level and ability during the session, with group warm-up and cool-down sessions being lead by the instructor. This class is designed to help improve an individual s strength and muscle tone. Participants also report improvements in stamina and working capacity. Individuals must choose one strength class.

3 Registered Disability Savings Plan Written by Kent Pollard, Chair Saskatoon Chapter Board With the 2007 budget, the Government of Canada introduced Registered Disability Savings Plans. If you, or someone you know, is severely disabled and will need long term care, it is important to set up an RDSP as soon as possible. Modeled after education savings, the RDSP allows funds to accumulate for the future needs of a person who qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit. Where a disabled person is part of a family with an income of less than about $75,000 a year, there are large amounts of matching money available from the government. The caveat, is that you need to be able to leave the money alone for a long time, as it is intended to provide for long term care. At the lowest incomes (families earning less than $30,000 per year), the government can put a $1,000 of savings bonds in to the plan even if the owner contributes nothing. While the funds placed in the plan are not tax deductible, the fund allows for tax free growth of the interest or capital gains, and the matching grants and bond can equal as much as $4,500 in free money for the most needy. For those with family incomes above $75,000 there are fewer benefits, though there are still some matching funds available, topping out at $1,000 and it allows money to grow tax free, and can permit parents to move funds to their off-spring for the long term. The fund must be set up by the person with the disability, or by someone who has the legal authority to act on their behalf (A parent or legal guardian). Funds that are in place by the end of February, 2009 will be considered to be for last year, and will qualify to get the matching funds for Currently, options for creating an account are limited. So far, only one financial institution in our province, the Bank of Montreal, has put a plan in place for creating accounts. The Royal Bank of Canada will apparently be set up in spring Individuals can contact their own financial institutions to inquire further about options in the future. More information is available at the Government of Canada here: There is also a web log with more information being updated regularly: here: Adult & Children s Recreation Subsidy Funds are intended for any activity or purchase, to enhance the quality of life for an adult with MS or child who has a parent with MS. Fitness classes, sports programs and music lessons are just a few examples. For application forms, or more information, call Cassie at Laughter Yoga Classes are offered on Wednesdays from 6:00 6:45 pm at the Jewish Community Centre (715 McKinnon Ave S) Laughter Yoga combines simple laughter/ breathing exercises with gentle stretching Involvement is free, but donations are appreciated Facilitated by Janet Erikson. For more information contact Janet at janeterikson@sasktel.net Fun for the entire family! Everyone is welcome

4 Job Fair for Work Seekers with Disabilities The Second Annual Job Fair for Work Seekers with Disabilities will take place on Wednesday March 25th, 2009 from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm at TCU Place which is located at nd Street East, Saskatoon. This job fair is exclusively for job seekers living with a disability. It will feature employers committed to a representative workforce, as well as service providers with information on accommodations and funding. For more information, please contact: 2009 MS Special Assistance Program Persons with MS may qualify for up to $200 of assistance. To get your application or for more information call Cassie at Brian Campbell, Employment Specialist Partners for Workplace Inclusion Program Phone: (306) bcampbell@ccrw.org Kid s Teen & Parents Websites Developed by Manitoba MS Division, these sites are rich with information and support. Sites are managed Monday through Friday so that all questions and replies are typically posted within 24 hours. Age appropriate language and illustration are used on the sites. Connect with other people who have common experiences and/or concerns. After all, no one knows more about life with MS than other people living with it. Registration is free sign up today! MS Wheelchair Loan Program Do you need to borrow a wheelchair or cane for a few days? If so, call Neil Squire Foundation Prairies Regional Office # th Avenue Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 0W1 Tel: (306) Fax: (306) sk.info@neilsquire.ca NSF helps people with disabilities through technology.

5 MS Research Luncheon Friday June 5, 2009 Saskatoon This year s research luncheon will feature Dr. Brenda Banwell, a well known Canadian neurologist and pediatric researcher who heads what may be the world s only multi disciplinary MS clinic for children, the MS Clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children. Over the past decade Dr. Banwell has become a world leader in pediatric MS as a clinician, researcher and educator Caregiver Special Assistance Funds Available September 2008 Primary caregivers of persons with MS may qualify for up to $200 of assistance. To get your application or for more information contact Cassie Nesbitt. Women s Wellness Session Pre-registration is required. Tickets are $5 for members and $15 for non-members. Tickets go on sale March 9 th. Call or to reserve your tickets, or cassie.nesbitt@mssociety.ca. Pre-payment is required. Members can purchase more than one ticket. Doors open at 11:30 am lunch served at 12:00 pm. There will be a session at 6:00 pm May 12, 2009 in Saskatoon relating to family issues and reproductive choices featuring speaker Dr. Dessa Sadovnick, professor of Molecular genetics, University of BC. Dr. Sadovnick is a leader in the MS genetics field. This session will be of particular interest to women and couples affected by MS who are considering pregnancy or to people with MS who have young children. Please RSVP to Cassie by May 7th, at or or cassie.nesbitt@mssociety.ca to register for this important session. Pre-registration is required. Dinner provided. Community Volunteer Income Tax Program If you need help to complete your tax return, your income is low and your tax situation is simple, our volunteers are specially trained to help you. For more information about this free program, or if you want to become a volunteer call

6 The Search for the Cause of MS Canadian Collaborative Project on Genetic Susceptibility to MS Phase 5 (CCPGSMS) Principal Investigators: Dr. George C. Ebers and Dr. Dessa A. Sadovnick. Local Saskatoon site principal investigator: Dr. Katherine B. Knox Target population - People born in 1975 or later with a clinical definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis Main Focus of Phase 5 - Environmental factors: exposure to chemicals, smoking, sunlight etc. Material factors: early life history Data collection phone interviews: information on family history, employment history, migration (places where you have lived) Molecular Studies We continue to accept samples for DNA studies from persons who have relatives with a definite diagnoses of MS. If you have any questions or would be interested in participating please contact: Mary or Marlene Multiple Sclerosis Clinic Saskatoon City Hospital Phone: (306) Toll Free: Carnations Use the Power of the Flower to End MS Brighten the day of someone living with MS with a fresh bouquet of Carnations. An anonymous donation of $10 can be made to the MS Society to purchase a Bouquet of Carnations for those living with MS in those living in long-term care. Or you can purchase a bouquet for yourself or someone you love for $10. Please contact the MS Society office at to order your bouquet for yourself or as an anonymous donation by April 3 rd.

7 MS Comedy Night Friday March 6, 2009 TCU Place Featuring Impressionist Don Hambley Tickets: $35 General Admission $25 Members $350 Corporate tables of 8 Call to get your tickets today! Meals on Wheels MS Clinic Through the MS Clinic you will have access to health care professionals who can answer your medical questions. The Saskatoon MS Clinic is affiliated with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Jan Britz, RN Clinic Coordinator Dr. Walter Hader, MD Dr. Katherine Knox, MD Chronic Pain Centre A program under the Saskatoon Health Region, a team of health care professionals offers assessment and treatment of patients with chronic non-malignant pain. The goals of the program are to enhance the quality of life by assisting individuals to regain and maintain control of their pain and their lives and to explore strategies for living with chronic pain. Call for more information. Don t Forget... Mark your Calendar MS Comedy Night Exercise Program Registration MS WALK Saskatoon Women s Wellness Session MS Research Luncheon March 6 th April 7 th April 26 th May 12 th June 5 th Saskatoon City Hospital 701 Queen Street, Room 7717 Saskatoon, SK S7K 0M7 Phone: (306) Toll-free: Website:

8 A Future Free From MS is Yours to Give I would like information on: Estate Planning Bequests Life Insurance Yes, I have already made a provision for the MS Society I am interested in making a provision for the MS Society I am sending a donation today of $ (enclosed) Yes, please contact me: Name: Address: City/Town: Postal Code: Telephone: Clip this form, place it in an envelope and mail it to: Jack Aldcorn, Executive Director MS Society, Saskatchewan Division 150 Albert Street Regina, SK S4R 2N2 or fax to: If you prefer, you can consult with your lawyer, estate planner, or other financial expert. Division Client Services Staff Cassie Nesbitt Community Resource Coordinator, North (Saskatoon office) Laurie Murphy Senior Community Resource Coordinator (Regina office) Paula Moon-Wozney Director of Client Services (Regina office) Chapters are located in the following communities: Battleford Melfort Regina Saskatoon Weyburn Saskatoon Office Quebec Avenue Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9 Tel: Fax: Regina Office 150 Albert Street Regina, SK S4R 2N2 Tel: Fax: Visit us on the web at: Lettermail Poste-lettres Return undeliverable items to: MS Society of Canada Quebec Ave Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9 Place address label here