WINTER 2012 PROGRAMS & SERVICES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

WATER THERAPY PROGRAM Living with MS means you may have to be careful what you get yourself into. But in this case the pool is what you need to get into! Water therapy is coming to the Central Valley of CA. The National MS Society and the Can Do program both agree - water is your friend. The benefits of exercise in water are many: it can improve overall physical function including walking, mobility, flexibility, balance and endurance. The feeling of decreased weight may lead to a decrease in pain and greater ease and range of movement. In addition, water therapy provides a social network, may reduce stress, promote relaxation, ease depression and improve self-esteem.

Important Information• Beginning January 15th, the class meets

every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. for a total of 16 classes, ending on March 7th.

• Classes are located at CA Rehabilitation Therapy Pool, 2048 West Briggsmore, Modesto, CA.

• Classes allow eight participants total, including assistants, if needed.

• You will need a swimsuit, towel, goggles (if desired) and aqua shoes.

• The registration deadline is January 7. • Contact Tim Overweg, community

development manager, at 209-214-6022 or timothy.overweg@nmss.org for the cost and to register. Financial assistance may be available.

Once you have registered for the class you will receive a welcome packet from CA Rehabilitation with all the necessary information and forms. At the end of the 16 weeks you will have the opportunity to move to an Independent Water Therapy class and depending on the need, there may be another 16 week class offered. CA Rehabilitation offers minimal assistance entering and exiting the pool. If you are unsure whether this class may be for you, please feel free to visit and observe. For more on CA Rehabilitation visit www.calirehab.com.

PROGRAMS & SERVICES WINTER 2012

Town Hall MeetingJanuary 5th, 11:00 a.m.Merced Senior Center 755 West 15th Street, Merced, CA 95340 The work of the National MS Society in California’s Central Valley has seen many changes over the last year, and we want to hear your response to those changes. Let’s celebrate the progress and growth and thoughtfully evaluate the challenges we currently have and how we respond to those challenges. This meeting will have as part of the agenda a presentation on Managing Pain and Sleep Issues Associated with MS. Join us to learn from the educational presentation and share your thoughts and positive dialogue on how we can continue to grow and improve our services to those living with MS and their loved ones and families. Light refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 800-344-4867. The registration deadline is December 31, 2012. For more information, please contact Tim Overweg at 209-214-6022 or e-mail timothy.overweg@nmss.org.

Newly Diagnosed OrientationFebruary 5th, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.National MS Society Office - Conference Rm. Central Valley Office 422 McHenry Avenue, Modesto, CA

Are you newly diagnosed with MS? A diagnosis of MS can create many unexpected emotions that leave you with a strong need to understand the changes you may be facing. On a quarterly basis, this informative program, conducted by trained NMSS staff and a local neurologist specializing in MS will address the most common concerns for people who are newly diagnosed. This orientation provides an excellent opportunity to have your questions answered and learn more about the resources available to persons with multiple sclerosis. Pre-registration is required. Please visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 1-800-344-4867. The registration deadline is February 4, 2013. For more information, please contact Tim Overweg at 209-214-6022 or e-mail timothy.overweg@nmss.org

CogniFitness - Keeping the Mind MovingMarch 13, 20 & 27, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Delta Blood Bank 2888 W. March Lane, Stockton, CA 95219 CogniFitness is a fun and educational three week series that will help you keep the mind moving and develop new techniques to strengthen your cognitive skills. Realize your optimal thinking skills utilizing techniques that have everyday applications. CogniFitness will be directed by Mary Alice Susca, a CA licensed speech pathologist for

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REGISTER AT NATIONALMSSOCIETY.ORG/CAN | 1-800-344-4867

more than 25 years. Mary Alice has worked primarily with adults after neurologic changes due to accident, stroke, and disease. She is nationally certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and has worked at Kaiser Permanente in Stockton/Manteca/Modesto for the past ten plus years. In CogniFitness you will learn to: • Facilitate focus and concentration • Improve memory using new strategies • Improve organization, problem solving and

critical thinking skills • Manage cognitive fatigue Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 1-800-344-4867. The registration deadline is March 4, 2013. For more information, please contact Tim Overweg at 209-214-6022 or e-mail timothy.overweg@nmss.org REGIONAL TELECONFERENCES Join us from the comfort of your own home for these informative conference calls on living with MS. These educational programs are free and made available through chapters in the West Region of the National MS Society. To register for these teleconferences, please call 1-800-344-4867 and press 1.

“Complementary and Alternative Medicine and MS”Februrary 7th, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

In the US today approximately 75% of people with MS use one form or another of

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), generally in combination with their prescribed MS treatments. Dr. Allen Bowling will discuss some of the options and lifestyle choices to consider when looking at CAM. “Important Decisions about Employment Benefits when Living with MS”April 4th, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join us for an informative discussion on the impact of employment on public and private benefit systems. Joe Entwisle, MS, CLCP, is a Senior Policy Analyst for the National Consortium for Health Systems Development and provides training and consultation across the country on issues related to employment for people with disabilities.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

GREATER BAY AREA• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction:

January 10th

• Balanced Living - Free Six-week Wellness Coaching Group: Beginning March 13th

• Newly Diagnosed Program: February 6th

NORTH BAY AREA• Tasting Sonoma: March 19th

• Lagunitas Brews and Blues Against MS: April 9th

• Managing Fatigue in MS: February 9th

• Fighting MS Step by Step: January 12th

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MS CONNECTION: WINTER 201210• Santa Rosa: Relationship Matters - 8-Hours

to a Lifetime of Relationship Satisfaction February 2nd and 3rd

• Newly Diagnosed Orientation: February 6th

GREATER SACRAMENTO• Free from Falls: TBD• MS Awareness Night at the Kings: March

8th

• Newly Diagnosed Orientation- Greater Sacramento: February 7th

• Adaptive Strategies for Memory and Cognitive Challenges in MS: January 8th

• Options and Managing MS Treatment: February 4th

SOUTH BAY AREA• Newly Diagnosed Orientation- Santa

Clara: February 4th

• Living Well with MS: Moving Forward after an MS Diagnosis: March 22nd

• Social Activity- Monterey: February TBD

SELF-HELP GROUPS MERCED COUNTY• Merced: MS Challengers

Susan: 209-564-4311

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY• Manteca

Sue: 209-482-7034• Stockton AM

Laurie: 209-915-1730 Velma: 209-951-2264

• Stockton PM Brenda: 209-951-0536 Mary: 209-334-5670

• Tracy Linda: 209-833-6882

STANISLAUS COUNTY• Modesto

Marti or Jane: 209-521-8956• Turlock

Bill: 209-664-1427 Frances: 209-667-2184

TUOLUMNE COUNTY• Sonora

Stephen or Gloria: 209-532-5646

SAVE THE DATE FOR2013 REGIONAL TELECONFERENCES

June 6, 2013 “Sleep Management”

August 1, 2013 “Intimacy and Family Planning”

Registration coming soon…