Miriam Franco, MSW, PsyD, emphasizes the importance of learning quick and effective means of stress reduction for both the care partner and the individual with MS. “Care partners are known to increase their risk of illness because they neglect their own health, don’t take time to exercise, or don’t take breaks. Stress-reduction techniques can easily be practiced at home, waiting in a doctor’s office, or together at the end of the day.”

Phil, who had left hip replacement surgery in 2011, now has problems with his right hip. “Shelley’s health was better the last time I needed surgery and she was able to care for herself. I can’t get the other hip fixed because I can’t go to the hospital and leave Shelley alone.”

Assistive-care facilities are meant to provide a higher level of care than some individuals with disabilities can receive at home. However, Dr. Weigel says that some of the assistive-care facilities she has seen may not be appropriate for younger people. “In such instances, the level of activity and social interaction isn’t the same as it is for elderly people. This can cause depression and social isolation.” For this reason, she recommends taking the steps needed to allow a loved one to live at home longer.

At MSAA, we are working on several program initiatives to help individuals with MS access timely and vital information. One of these projects, My Health Insurance Guide, is a specific section on our website dedicated to the rules and changes related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare, and other insurance options. More details on this web-based initiative can be found in the Program Notes column on page 42 of this issue.

Q: (a) I was diagnosed with MS in 2003. I was on Avonex for three years, then Copaxone for seven years. I had no relapses and only mild further deterioration overall. My neurologist, an MS specialist, recently took me off my disease-modifying therapy because I turned 60 years of age. Can you comment on the relationship of age to the effectiveness of a long-term therapy?

On August 15, 2014, Biogen Idec announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved Plegridy™ (peginterferon beta-1a) for the long-term treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Manufactured by Biogen Idec, this new medication is the 11th disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to be approved for MS since the early 1990s. Plegridy is given once every two weeks through a subcutaneous self-injection.

MSAA proudly announces the creation of a new addition to the mymsaa.org website, dedicated exclusively to helping the MS community better understand and utilize health insurance. Titled, My Health Insurance Guide, this comprehensive online resource center offers a wealth of easy-to-follow information about the Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.

In previous articles in The Motivator and posts on our blog, MS Conversations, I have talked about the current controversy over whether charity ratings are really helpful in giving a true picture of an organization’s effectiveness in meeting their mission. Does a number or a star really help you know if a nonprofit is having an impact?

People in any career field may develop multiple sclerosis – it does not discriminate – and this includes doctors too. Mack Stephenson, PhD is a psychologist who began exhibiting the symptoms of MS while in the service, although he was not diagnosed until after leaving the Navy. As both a doctor and a teacher, he decided to learn about the disease and its treatments, and then write about his experiences and observations. To follow are some key passages from Dr. Stephenson’s book. We’re also proud to feature someone who served our country.

Two books from MSAA’s free Lending Library are featured.