A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of going to a photo shoot at the Fairview MS Achievement Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. I anticipated that it would be a different experience than our typical photo shoots at schools or rehab centers, and it was. It was really neat to get the tour of their facility and see all the different activities that the members with Multiple Sclerosis take part in. According to their website, the Fairview Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center (MSAC) is a special program designed to enhance the body, mind and spirit of people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The National MS Society has designated Fairview MSAC as a Center for the Promotion of Excellence in Long-term Care. I could tell that the members truly considered the MS Center a very important part of their life. Some of the services that the MS Center offers are Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and counseling. Most members come to the center two days a week, and there is a waiting list for acceptance of new members. The MS Achievement Center was a very busy place. Never before, have we had so much action around us as we were working to get the photos we were looking for. This was especially noticeable in the video footage, you can hear all the activity going on around us in the audio.
Dennie is transferred into the EasyStand Evolv with the help of his PT aids and an overhead ceiling lift.
Their therapy room and art room were the most impressive to me. The therapy room has 6-7 EasyStands lined up and they are sometimes all in use at one time. Wow! What a photo that would be! To see a roomful of people standing in EasyStand standers! They use a combination of StrapStands, EasyStand 5000′s and EasyStand Evolvs. With the StrapStand, a strap lifts the person out of their wheelchair into a standing position, eliminating the need for a transfer. Many of the people who used the EasyStand Evolvs are hoisted in with a Liko Ceiling Lift system that the center has installed in the therapy room. Most of the members that I talked to did not have a stander at home, so using the EasyStand while at the MS Center is an important part of their health.
Homemade candle holders made by members of the MS Achievement Center.
The art room seemed to focus mostly on pottery. When we were there, they were making candle holders that were actually used as the “trophies” for the MS Awards. Each one was unique and so beautiful! Doing projects like pottery helps people with multiple sclerosis work with their hands, improving dexterity, and go through the decision making process on colors, designs, etc. Across the walls in the art room were inspiring words that the members could read as they created their art.
Nila has MS but is able to stand at the MS Achievement Center in the EasyStand StrapStand.
One of the members that we met was especially inspiring to me, almost like an angel. Her name was Nila, and she has had MS since 1972. She had so much wisdom, you could sense an aura of peace and tranquility coming from her. She comes to the center twice a week and stands in the StrapStand for about 30 minutes each time. When I asked her what she does while she is in her stander, she thoughtfully said, “I mostly observe others and listen to the advice that the PT’s give to the other members. I can take that advice and use it too.”
To learn more about the Fairview MS Achievement Center, visit their website at www.fairview.org/msac. You can also view a video about a typical day at the MS Achievement Center.
Watch for a video we are working on about the MS Achievement Center and how they use standing therapy with their members.
I would like to say thank you to Cathy Tobias, Director, Jackie Harry, Physical Therapist, and the wonderful PT aids and staff for letting us take over their Therapy Room for a couple hours. We would also like to thank members Nila Poole, Marinela Poptelecan, Dennie Jenson, and Penny Falcon for modeling in the EasyStand for us and sharing your stories!
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