MSWA’S MAGAZINE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH MS NURSING Our MS nurses are usually the first point of contact after the neurologist’s diagnosis of MS. We’re committed to providing holistic supports; providing a greater understanding of what to expect. Lou Hatter, Manager: 9365 4888 or Community Nurse: 9365 4888 WILSON CENTRE 29 Parkhill Way (08) 9365 4888 Fax (08) 9451 4453 Freecall 1800 287 367 See Health Team Dept contacts on this page MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTORY GENERAL MANAGER – MEMBER SERVICES Sue Shapland: 9365 4840 INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS Manager Community Care Programs 9365 4851 NDIS TEAM 9365 4824 OUTREACH GROUPS Wilson Outreach (Mon-Thurs): 9365 4830 Beechboro Lodge (Mon, Fri): 9377 7800 Southside Outreach (Fri): 9592 9202 Albany Outreach (Fri): 9841 6657 BUNBURY (WED) HUB 1 Mason Street, Davenport 6454 2800 BUSSELTON OFFICE 1/21 Cammilleri Street 9754 2320 MARGARET DOODY RESPITE HOUSE Manager, Chris Rush: 9385 9574 FERN RIVER ACCOMMODATION Manager, Danuta Figurska: 9356 2747 HAMILTON HILL ACCOMMODATION Manager, Jayne O’Sullivan: 9331 5780 TREENDALE GARDENS RESPITE & ACCOMMODATION 50 The Boulevard, Australind Manager, Linda Kidd: 9725 9209 CONTACT US If you would like to comment on anything you read in this Bulletin please email bulletin@mswa.org.au or write to MSWA, Locked Bag 2, Bentley DC WA 6983 The Bulletin can also be viewed at mswa.org.au/bulletin EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Greg Brotherson (Editor), Marcus Stafford (CEO), Paul Cavanagh, Sue Shapland, Ros Harman, Libby Cassidy, Caitlin Skinner, Sandra Wallace, Narelle Taylor, Leonie Wellington, Sarah Lorrimar, and Dawn Burke. The Editor welcomes unsolicited submissions. All articles are subject to a reviewing process. The views expressed are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of MSWA’s staff, advisors, Directors or officers. PHYSIOTHERAPY Our team aims to provide treatment interventions to develop and maintain mobility and function. Our Physiotherapists are experts in movement and function, and work in partnership with you to attain the highest possible level of independence. Dave Hathorn, Manager: 9365 4837 or Physiotherapy Department: 9365 4834 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Occupational Therapists enable Members, and Clients, to continue their work and other interests for as long as possible through advice, aids and equipment. Rosemarie Dravnieks, Manager: 9365 4804 or OT Department: 9365 4888 SPEECH PATHOLOGY Our Speech Pathologists provide support by assessing, diagnosing and creating individualised treatment programs for Members who experience swallowing and/or communication difficulties. We equip Members with information and strategies to promote better communication and safe swallowing. Jamaica Grantis, Manager: 6454 3140 COUNSELLING, PEER SUPPORT & HEALTH EDUCATION Talking with a Counsellor creates a safe, respectful and confidential environment for you and those close to you to explore options, create change or gain understanding about your life. Attending counselling with our tertiary qualified practitioners enables opportunity for personal growth and exploration in a non-judgemental environment. We have a Peer Support & Health Education Coordinator who organises peer connection & events and supports health and wellness education services. She can be contacted on 9365 4858. To make an appointment please call: Lisa Papas, Manager: 9365 4836 or Main Counselling line: 9365 4811 SOCIAL WELFARE Social Welfare Officers assist people living with MS and their families to access services and supports to remain living independently at home. They specialise in case management, advocacy and sourcing funding options. They provide information on benefits and entitlements through Centrelink and other government departments. Monitor NDIS/WANDIS Services. Irene Gallagher, Manager, Social Work: 9365 4835 INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS We provide long-term and time limited in-home supports including assistance with personal care for people with MS, to help them remain in their homes. Care and supports are provided through a combination of funding from the Disability Services, Department of Communities and our own fundraising efforts. We manage both DSC and NDIS individually funded care packages. Contact Aileen Ward, Manager on 9365 4851 for more information. THE NDIS TEAM We can help answer all NDIS questions. Our experienced team can help determine whether you may be eligible for NDIS support and assist you with your application. This includes developing an individual plan that best suits your needs. We support people with all neurological conditions including MS, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Acquired Brain Injury and Motor Neurone Disease, to name a few. Contact Mark Douglas, NDIS Operations Manager: 9365 4824 CAMPS & RECREATION MSWA provides separate recreation camps for Members, carers, and families, primarily funded by Lotterywest, and for a nominal cost to participants. These camps provide a break from daily routines, and strengthen friendships and support networks. Coordinator for Camps & Recreation: 9365 4843 2 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR DR GREG BROTHERSON On behalf of the Editorial Team, welcome to your first MSWA Bulletin for 2018. Besides the usual fireworks and festivities, this New Year celebration also turned out to be something very special indeed when the heavens put on a rare and majestic display with an eclipse of a stunning super blue blood moon. It was a spectacle that captured the imagination. By chance, I was giving my wife some respite and had moved to MSWA’s respite home in Treendale, situated adjacent to the Leschenault Inlet, Bunbury. It is a beautiful setting. The area to the east is entirely flat and ready for development; for the time being it is uncluttered by an encroaching suburbia. It was a lovely warm evening, a crystal-clear night, with a super moon making her entrance from the east over an unblemished horizon. The stage is set, my acquaintance for the performance about to get underway is another resident, Janet, who has Motor Neurone Disease (MND), and communicates by iPad with a text-to-speech application. We paid due reverence to the unknown conductor, raised the seats on our powerchairs to the height limit, inclined the seats and waited for what astronomers said would be a “mind-bending performance.” That was to prove a gross understatement. Captured by the wonder of it all, there was adequate time for inner contemplation as Earth’s shadow glided across the moon, blocking out the light from the sun. When the shadow completely engulfed the moon, the beautiful colour of totality formed, producing a blood-red Moon to ponder over. The principles of celestial mechanics did not cause Janet and me to spend hours watching the heavens in quiet contemplation and amazement. Having a neurological disease, such as MND and MS, can cause amenable people to think of the meaning of life, the mysterious, and enjoy this cosmic experience which stimulates the intellect, in a religious sense. continued over INSIDE | AUTUMN 2018 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 3-4 FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO 5 A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER – MEMBER SERVICES 6 BOOK REVIEW: MAGGIE’S RECIPE FOR LIFE 7 MS RESEARCH ROUND UP 8-10 BRAIN HEALTH AND MS 11 THE BENEFITS OF PEER SUPPORT 11 EXPRESSIVE WRITING 12 MY WIFE HAS MS 13 SOUND AND COGNITION 14 BALANCE THERAPY TRIAL 15 MSWA MEMBER ALMA-JEAN IS ALL SMILES IN PINJARRA 16 COMMUNICATING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: WHAT’S NEW? 17 THE NDIS AND ME 18 NDIS UPDATE 19 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT NEWS 20 RESILIENCE – THE HEALTHY BRAIN 21 THE DAY I CHANGED MY MIND 22 THAT’S LIFE WITH NARELLE 23 CARERS’ SUPPORT GROUP CHRISTMAS BBQ 23 VOLUNTEER UPDATE 24 BEECHBORO OUTREACH GROUP 25 NORTHAM SUPPORT GROUP 25 ALBANY OUTREACH NEWS 26 SOUTHSIDE OUTREACH NEWS 26 2018 EVENTS CALENDER 27 MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 3