# 5-2021 Community Advisor News
9 December 2021
Kia ora koutou,
Just wanting to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for the upcoming holiday season. Many thanks for your support throughout the year.
Community Advisor Services
The Community Advisors are presently available to you through a virtual service, via phone, email, and video conferencing. We are currently working through the new Covid 19 Traffic Light framework and how it will look for MS Wellington next year. We will communicate with you about this as soon as we are able.
Covid Vaccine Passport
Now that we are in the new Traffic Light system, you will need to have a Vaccine Passport to provide proof of vaccination to access many places in the community. Please note a Vaccine Passport is not required to enter a Doctor’s surgery, pharmacy or supermarket. There are a number of ways to access your Vaccine Passport;
My Vaccine Pass | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)
Pharmacies providing vaccinations can print out hard copies of the passport if you are unable to access it online. Go to Healthpoint.co.nz to see which pharmacy near you is offering this service;
COVID-19 Vaccination • Healthpoint
Please contact us if you get stuck accessing your Vaccine Passport. We may be able to help or point you in the right direction. Our contact details are below.
**Wellington Host Lions Magic Show is online – Saturday 11th December 3pm**
This year the Wellington Host Lions magic show is coming to you online – in an interactive, fun-filled family event this coming Saturday.
Click the Link Below to Enter the Magic Show!
Wellington Host Lions Club Live Zoom World Festival of Magic
Saturday 11th December 2021 – 3:00 PM
https://zoom.us/j/99189329321?pwd=SEJaUXB4L3JPaStGczVRN3Fyb2VGQT09
Keeping cool this summer
With the warmer months ahead of us, you may be starting to think about keeping cool and regulating your temperature. Many people with MS become sensitive to the heat, particularly in summer. An elevated core body temperature (whether from illness, heat or activity) can alter the effective conduction of nerve impulses. This can result in fatigue and a temporary worsening of symptoms. Here are a couple of ways to help manage the heat and the resulting symptoms;
*Dress to be cool in natural fibres like cotton, and wear layers that you can easily remove if necessary.
*Plan around hot weather – organise your activities in the cooler part of the day, this may include exercise, housework or outings.
*Have cool drinks on hand. Freezing bottles of water for the next day is a good tip.
*Invest in a cooling towel – these can be purchased from sports shops Simply Clean Cooling Towel Blue | Rebel Sport and other retailers, including Hydrocool (website below).
*Invest in a cool vest: Hydrocool are offering a 20% discount on cool vests to people with MS plus a free Cooling towel, use Discount code MSWELLINGTON on checkout: https://www.hydrocool.nz/discount/MSWELLINGTON?redirect=productshydro-cool-sport-vest
Email: contact@hydrocool.nz
Phone: 0276682577
For further tips on keeping cool, please refer to the document at bottom of page ‘Heat sensitivity and keeping cool’
Second hand cool vest available
We have a free second-hand cool vest available to someone who would like one – size small. It is the Chilla brand – it works by soaking in water and putting in the freezer. Please email me if you are interested.
Spotlight – MS Voice
MS Voice is the MSNZ Newsletter, bringing their latest news, what MSNZ has been working on and tips to living well. If anyone would like to get the regular newsletter of MS Voice;
scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the sign me up box on the right;
Home | Multiple Sclerosis Society of NZMultiple Sclerosis Society of NZ (msnz.org.nz)
New Jobseeker tool for people with disabilities
Workbridge has launched an online job portal for those with disabilities. You can read about it here;
Job-seeker tool launched for people with disabilities amid ’employment crisis’ | Stuff.co.nz
For more information, go to the Workbridge website:
Workbridge | Building a bridge over employment barriers
My MS team
My MS team is a free social network that makes it easy for you to get support from others and find resources. There is also a mobile app you can install on your phone. Check out their website to see if My MS team is something you would like to explore further;
The social network for those living with multiple sclerosis. | MyMSTeam
MS News Today: An article on Understanding and Managing Fatigue in MS
Meghan Beier, PHD and a Rehabilitation Neuropsychologist, answers some commonly asked questions about MS fatigue in an article for MS News Today;
Covid 19 Communications
Considering the evolving situation of Covid 19, we will be in touch next week with some tools and resources about managing Covid 19 in the community.
Feel free to be in touch with me at any time if you have any questions or would like to discuss your needs. My contact details are below. Just to advise, I will be on leave from the 17th December, and will be back on Monday 17th January 2022. Please contact your GP during this time if you need support.
Ngā mihi,
Gillian