Patient Resources
MCMS provides tools, guidance, and support designed to help you navigate your MS journey with confidence.
Practical Support for Everyday Life
At MCMS, we’re committed to supporting the whole patient—not just the condition. This section includes practical resources to help you manage life with MS, from foundation assistance programs and reimbursement support to lifestyle tips, exercise guidance, and nutrition insights. You’ll also find ways to stay connected through community events and wellness initiatives designed to empower and uplift you on your journey.
Federal & State Assistance
- Medical Assistance (MA) – Coverage Details – Apply Here
- Minnesota’s largest health care program for low income citizens
- Serves children and families, pregnant women, adults without children, seniors and people who are blind or have a disability
- Must apply to determine qualification
- Can help pay past bills up to three months back from application date
- In some cases, you can have other health insurance and still get MA. MA may pay for expenses not covered by your insurance, including all or part of your insurance copays. MA may also pay the premium for your other insurance.
- MNsure Insurance Marketplace Assistance – Apply Here
- Free assistance to find insurance that best suits you and your family’s needs
- FAQ on coverage and costs here
Foundation Assistance, Grants & Reimbursements
- MS Society – Doctors & Resources Search Tool
- Expert Interview: Financial Planning for People With MS
- HealthWell Foundation Grants
- MS Grants (open and closes due to funding) – apply here
- 211 United Way – Emergency Relief – Search Tool
- MS Foundation Grants
- Transportation to/from appointments – apply here
- Reimbursement for ride-sharing services with Lyft or Uber
- Emergency Rent assistance – apply here
- Currently is only assisting for rent, sometimes assists with utilities
- Does not apply to mortgages, only rent
- Also covers temporary housing due to FEMA recognized disaster displacement
- Computer Grant – apply here
- MS patients on limited income can apply to receive a laptop or home computer
- Assistive Technology Program – apply here
- Transportation to/from appointments – apply here
Funding to help purchase aids for daily living, including communication and computers, mobility and hearing aids, home/vehicle modifications and more
Seated Yoga & Exercise
- Chair Yoga for MS
- Gentle Seated Yoga for Beginners
- Everyday Chair Yoga for Everyone
- Chair Yoga, Strength & Fatigue Management
- Aerobic Exercise Tips for MS
Floor Yoga & Exercise
- 15 Min Neck & Shoulder Stretches
- Floor Yoga for Depression
- Floor Yoga for MS
- Leg Strengthening for MS
- Staying active with Multiple Sclerosis
Outdoor Activity
- MS Society Cooling Vest – Learn more & shop equipment here
- Heat can worsen MS symptoms
- Keeping cool in outdoor environments, temperature control
- Patients can apply for a cooling vest for free
- Health & Wellness Grant – Apply here
- Covers classes and programs that enhance wellness of MS patients
- Yoga, aquatics, gym memberships, art & dance therapy
- MS Society: Recreational Activities – Search here
- Find local recreational activities that work for MS
- Learn about adapting the activity to your MS needs
- Challenged Athletes Foundation – Learn more here
- Aiding disabled individuals in joining adaptive sports
- Offers grants and aid
- Offers routine online classes and resources
Recipe Resources & Meal Prep
- AboveMS Recipe List – Explore here
- Recipe ideas for maintaining good nutrition with MS
- Explore entrée, breakfast, snack and dessert ideas
- ChooseMyPlate – Explore here
- Track your eating habits and personalize your eating requirements based on your age, height, weight and more
- Professional resources for knowing what to have in the fridge
- View healthy recipe ideas here
- Eat This Much – Explore here
- Customizable meal planning
- Includes dietary restrictions result filtering
- Can plan your grocery trips around your meal plan
- Wellness in MS: Nutrition, Weight management and more
- The Science Behind MS Nutrition
- Low Energy Meals – Explore here
Inflammatory Foods & Habits to Avoid
- High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes all heighten health risks when factored with MS
- Avoid high saturated fats, high sugar and high sodium
- Spiking intake can worsen MS fatigue/symptoms
- Alcohol can worsen MS fatigue, experts recommend not drinking at all – more info here
- Smoking health risks and made far worse for MS patients – learn more
- Can hasten MS progression
- Can heighten disabling symptoms
- Can impede the effectiveness of treatment
Local Foundation Events
- Walk MS – Find your local walk
- MCMS regularly participates and forms groups for Walk MS! Ask our staff how you can join our next walk
- MS News & Views – Find online and in-person events
- Year-round calendar of expert presentations on all things MS
- Calkwood has presented with them before!
- See their backlog of presentations online here
- MS Society Upper Midwest Chapter – Join here
- Explore volunteer opportunities
- View calendar of all events here
Support Groups
- Can Do Multiple Sclerosis – Explore here
- Online and In-person meetups for all walks of MS
- Support for newly diagnosed
- Coaching for leading your own local support groups
- MS Society – New to MS Virtual Meetup – Join here
MS Care Partner Support
- The MS Caregiver Connection – Explore here
- Resource support for MS caregivers
- Relationship counseling, financial planning, and more
- MS Society: Family & Caregiver Support Group – Join online
- Virtual online meeting every 2nd Tuesday of the month
