For young and vibrant people, multiple sclerosis can appear out of nowhere and turn their lives upside down.
MS can be debilitating.
But in Denver, a program enables young people with the disease and other acquired neurological disabilities – such as brain injury, strokes and Lou Gehrig’s disease – to carry on fulfilling and active lives.
The program is called the King Adult Day Enrichment Program, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain MS Center.
“The program is about life enrichment,” said Karen Wenzel, executive director of the MS Center. “Most of the people have a level of disability that would require them to live in a nursing home. But we keep them out of more expensive and less desirable care situations.
“The King program lets them do things young adults should and have a quality of life,” said Wenzel.
The program allows the young people to live at home but participate in a wide array of activities that they attend from two to five days a week, depending on their needs.
The program also allows their families to go about normal daily activities, including their jobs.
Breakfasts, lunches and snacks are provided, and the nursing staff assists the clients with medical transportation, purchasing disposable medical supplies and medical care.
In 2006, a total of 195 classes were provided, such as bowling, pool hall, hydrotherapy, tennis, golf and other summer sports, including kayaking.
The participants also enjoy a wide range of outings to places such as the National Western Stock Show, Rodeo & Horse Show; Fiske Planetarium; the Butterfly Pavilion; Clement Park; the Elvis Cinemas; and trips to big retailers Super Kmart and SuperTarget.
The trips to the retailers are important, Wenzel said, because it allows the participants to do “normal life” activities.
“We try to get them gift certificates so they can buy gifts for their families,” Wenzel said.
The program averages 145 participants a week, with 60 attending per day.
Most say they like coming because of the social and emotional support the program gives them, including understanding and compassion from people with similar disabilities.
“These are people with a lot of complex medical needs,” said Wenzel. “They want a quality of life and deserve a quality of life. This program is a win-win situation for the whole community.”
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
Rocky Mountain MS King Adult Day
Enrichment Program
Address: 2851 W. 52nd Ave., Denver
In operation since: 1991
Number served last year: 163
Staff: 18
Yearly budget: $1.06 million
Percentage of funds directly to clients/services: 100 percent
Post-News Season To Share, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, gave $1.79 million to 62 agencies last year serving children, the hungry, homeless and those in need of medical care. Donations are matched at 50 cents for each dollar; 100 percent goes directly to the agencies. To make a donation, see the coupon in today’s paper, call 1-888-683- 4483 or visit .
