South East Region

Individual and family support, often called casework, is a one-to-one service provided by the Regional Community Worker. They work with the person with MS or/and their family to work through any issues or concerns. These issues may include those related to health and wellbeing, emotional factors, available services or welfare needs.

They are there to listen to your concerns, provide you with information you may need, support you in coming to terms with your diagnosis and refer you to other services and organisations if needed. 

Contact our office today to speak to a Regional Community Worker.

Our programmes are a great way to learn more about MS, meet other people and pick up tips and hints from others. We provide a range of programmes including newly diagnosed seminars, support groups, physiotherapy and exercise classes, symptom management sessions and other information and professional advice programmes. These are run for people with MS, carers, families and health professionals.

MS Ireland believes physiotherapy and exercise is an important part of managing the impact of MS. Through our Physically Activity Programmes and research we have devised various physiotherapy and exercise classes for people with varying levels of mobility. In our region, we run a number of these types of classes.

Check our calendar to find out what programmes are currently running.

Professional Information and Advice Workshops aim to give people with MS a focal point for appropriate, evidence- based information, advice about MS health issues in small groups.

The workshops are usually delivered by skilled clinical staff from the Health Service Executive, Money Advice Budgeting Service, Citizens Information.

Topics include being newly diagnosed with MS, managing MS symptoms – fatigue, continence, mobility, pain, cognition and talks on allowances, benefits, disability payments.   

The workshops are a great way of learning more about managing MS in a relaxed and comfortable environment. 

Occasionally, we also run 6-week Living Well with a Long Term Illness Programme and FACETS - fatigue management, across the South East in partnership with other agencies such as Health Service Executive (HSE), Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and others.

The National Ability Supports System (NASS) was established in 2018. It replaces two previous systems – the National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD) and the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database (NPSDD). It is a computer database that captures information on the service use and needs of people with MS and other disabilities.  

The data collected is used as a key resource for planning future services and evaluating service use. The HRB system is the only national database on disabilities in Ireland. Its data is used to inform decisions such as budget allocations and policy considerations. Therefore, it is essential that everyone who is eligible for inclusion on the NASS database is encouraged to participate so that their needs are reflected. People availing of services from MS Ireland will be contacted once a year by our Data Collectors. They will go through the questions with you at a time and pace that suits you.

MS Ireland may be able to offer financial assistance to people with MS to help cover the costs of some expenses associated with the condition.

The Regional Community worker liaises with the applicant and the voluntary Branch to ensure money cannot be sourced through state funds prior to Financial Assistance being requested from the voluntary Branch. Payment if successful is administered by the voluntary Branch and is governed by national regulations.

Read more about making a Financial Assistance application.

There are many types of events and activities organised to meet other people with MS in a comfortable, safe and friendly setting. Ranging from coffee mornings, socials and outings, these events are great ways to learn from others and share experiences in an informal setting.

To find out what's coming up in South East contact the regional office on 056 77 77 771 or email southeastr@ms-society.ie

All our voluntary Branches fundraise extensively to fund their services and they contribute to the overall services of the South East. From church-gate collections and bag packs to fun runs and concerts, voluntary Branches rely on the generosity of the local community. 

Check out our calendar to find out what fundraising events are coming up in this region.