Aoife Lambe North East Region
Aoife Lambe is our Regional Community Worker in the North East. She helps and supports people living with Multiple Sclerosis from counties Louth and Meath. The North East office is based in Castleblayney Co. Monaghan, below Aoife outlines her role and how she can help people living with MS.
Tell us a little bit about your role and the services provided in the North East?
The role of the Community Worker is divided between Case Work and Community Development. Case Work involves responding to the contact made by the person with MS and providing one to one individual support to both the person with MS and their families. It is understandable that following a diagnosis of MS that you are often left with lots of questions or concerns about symptoms, treatments options and how other aspects of their life might be affected by the diagnosis of MS. It is the role of the Community Worker to ensure you have up to date and accurate information. The Community Worker will assist the person with MS navigate the health care system .
We will advocate on your behalf where directed to and we will make referrals where appropriate. Examples of individual support work interventions include provision of information specifically designed for people with MS regarding aspects of living with MS. We provide support on issues relating to social welfare, medical cards applications, employment, education, housing and much more. The person with MS directs all our individual support work and we conduct this work in a confidential and sensitive manner. The Community Worker is the professional you can contact at the start of your MS journey and link in with from time to time when you need information or assistance.
Community Development ensures the provision of programmes identified as relevant for people with MS are made available by us in each of our regions. Such programmes include Getting the Balance Right Physiotherapy led exercise classes, yoga classes, self-management information sessions, Newly Diagnosed Days, Teen & Family days, Coffee/Support groups. These programmes also facilitate the option for peer support for people with MS. Consultation with the MS community in the facilitation of groups and the provision of services is at the heart of how we work. Community workers work closely with the voluntary branches of MS Ireland who financially support many of the programmes listed above. The branches also try to the raise the profile of MS in their regions. I work with two voluntary branches, Louth and Meath.
What do you like most about your role?
The role of Community Worker allows you to build relationships with people with MS and their families. From these relationships, challenges are set in terms of finding the right information or services that will make a positive impact on the life of the person with MS. These challenges create many learning opportunities for the community worker – every day is a school day.
Pictured Aoife Lambe and an Tanaiste Leo Varadkar at a recent visit to the offices in Castleblaney.
Providing services during COVID-19, what was that like?
Covid presented Community Worker services with many challenges but we met the challenges head on. We continued individual support via telephone, zoom calls, WhatsApp etc. We maintained our presence at HSE meetings or any other meetings when requested. Zoom, is the chosen MS Ireland platform which allows us to offer all our programmes online and Community Workers try to ensure PWMS are supported to access these programmes.
In Louth and Meath, people with MS are offered the opportunity to attend physio, yoga and mindfulness classes online via Zoom. The local branches have a monthly meeting online, open to all to attend. Community Workers have returned to face to face casework with clients, however, MS Irelands programmes and physical activity classes remain on line.
The most common issues you see from your clients on a day-to-day basis
A few things spring to mind here.
- Being able to return to work and what that might look like.
- Driving, having a suitable vehicle and being able to afford the vehicle that meets your needs.
- Housing – applying for social housing, social housing waiting lists, applying for home adaptations grants etc.
Advice to someone newly diagnosed?
Get in touch with your Community Worker. It is good to have some one that can point you in the right direction when you need information or advice. The service is directed by you and you can have as much or as little as you decide.
How to be contacted?
Mobile: 086 4613369
Email: aoifel@ms-society.ie