By enhancing safety and daily life
Improving Lives Today…
By enhancing safety and daily life
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“I just wanted to write that I am so thankful for the cooling vest, walker, and leg lift. They are wonderful and so are you. I could not afford these items on my own. You are a Godsend to me and are making my life easier.”
Equipment Distribution Program: Some people with MS experience difficulty with balance and coordination, fine motor skills, and mobility. The MSAA Equipment Distribution Program offers products designed to improve their safety, dignity, mobility, and independence. MSAA provides these products at no charge and ships directly to the client. Items distributed through the program include a variety of bathroom and home-safety products such as shower chairs, grab bars, and hand rails, as well as mobility devices including canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. For more information, please visit mymsaa.org/equipment.
Cooling Distribution Program: Many people with MS are heat sensitive. MS research has proven that heat and humidity often aggravate common MS symptoms, and has also proven that cooling the body can help lessen these negative effects. The most common cooling product is a full-size vest with insulated pockets that hold small ice packs. The vests are worn over clothing and provide a temporary cooling relief that can last up to a few hours. In addition to the vests, companies have created a variety of cooling wraps to fit the neck, wrists, and ankles, giving people more options and the ability to stay active while cooling. The MSAA Cooling Distribution Program offers cooling vests and accessories at no charge for adults with multiple sclerosis as well as children diagnosed with pediatric MS. For more information, please visit mymsaa.org/cooling.
MRI Access Fund: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable tool for diagnosing multiple sclerosis and tracking its progression. Both aspects are critically important in helping people find answers, monitor disease activity, and make informed treatment and healthcare decisions. The MSAA MRI Access Fund assists individuals who are uninsured, under-insured, or financially unable to pay for the exam, acquire a cranial MRI to confirm a diagnosis of MS or evaluate current MS disease progression. MSAA works with eligible individuals, physicians, imaging centers, and insurers to help fund the necessary MRI exam. For more information, please visit mymsaa.org/mri.
Online Aquatic Center: MSAA recognizes the importance of regular exercise as part of an overall wellness approach to effectively manage multiple sclerosis. For individuals who may have difficulty with traditional land-based activities, the unique properties of water combined with its cool temperature can create an inviting and sometimes ideal exercise environment for people with MS.
As part of the Swim for MS initiative, MSAA has created a comprehensive online Aquatic Center dedicated to increasing awareness, understanding, and availability of water-based exercise programs as a positive wellness opportunity for the MS community. The online Aquatic Center contains an informative guide, helpful articles, inspirational videos, webinars, tip sheets, links to available community pools and aquatic exercise programs, and additional supportive resources. To visit the site, please access aquatics.mymsaa.org.