Louisville MS Center

Louisville Comprehensive Care MS Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Louisville focused exclusively on social services for individuals living with MS and their children, families, and caregivers. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of people living with MS through advocacy, support and education.

In 2004, the initial concept of establishing a comprehensive care MS center addressing all social service needs was created by Drs. Robert S. Tillett, Jr. and Roy J. Meckler. Both are neurologists practicing at Louisville Neurology Associates in Louisville, Kentucky. Drs. Meckler and Tillett see the great majority of the MS population in the Louisville Metro area and its surrounding counties. Even though their responsibility is to diagnose and treat patients, they realized that their patients needed social services related assistance outside the spectrum of medical care to help them in the management of their disease.
The concept of an MS Center was born out of the necessity to address daily challenges faced by people living with multiple sclerosis. The doctors approached people in the community who were interested in the concept and a board of directors was formed in September of 2004. The Board consists of individuals diagnosed with MS, people who treat MS, or people with a close connection to the disease.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system.

MS has a wide range of symptoms and is a progressively degenerative disease with devastating physical, mental, emotional, social and financial effects on a patient's life. Most people diagnosed with MS are between the ages of 20 to 50, when the majority is completing an education, establishing a career, a family, and/or working toward financial security. It is the most common neurological disorder diagnosed among young adults, and affects women 3 times more often than men.

To ensure and maximize the quality of life for MS patients, the MS Center addresses all aspects of the individual's humanity through a holistic approach. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that changes an individual's life and self-perception. MS patients must manage symptoms, implement/adhere to treatments, and make permanent lifestyle changes for their remaining life - making them feel hopeless/out of control. It is imperative to patients' quality of life and care continuum to educate them, their children and family, healthcare professionals and the community at large about MS and its management. Our services focus on:

Knowledge and understanding through education. Educate patients and their children and families, and the medical community about treatment options, research, management tactics, etc. through educational programs, lending library, and an informational website.
Emotional well being through counseling. Promote/support effective coping, problem solving, and planning for patients and their families by facilitating appropriate mental health counseling and support groups.
Physical well being through exercise and nutrition. Advance exercise and nutrition as essential components of overall health.
Empowerment through effective case management. Find solutions and/or alternatives to daily challenges through hands-on support with social services, including: insurance matters, financial considerations, and legal needs.
Patient's rights through advocacy and activism. Represent the MS community on key issues that directly impact their lives and advocate for them at local/state/national levels.

The Center provides the following array of services to MS patients, their families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals:

Monthly professionally-led community-based seminars (e.g., "Vision Difficulties with MS");
Accredited seminars for the medical community;
In-house individual, family and couples mental health counseling;
In-house social services provided by highly trained social workers;
Nutrition programs;
Local advocacy and activism;
Exercise programs (e.g., Aqua Aerobics);
Monthly in-house professionally-led men's, women's, and caregiver's support groups;
In-house lending library and internet access for research;
A variety of therapeutic workshops (e.g., Self-Discovery Through Journaling);
Social events (e.g., bowling parties and Women's MS Lunch League);
Awareness/fundraising activities;
Free legal services through Legal Aid Society of Louisville;
Free MRI's for the uninsured and underinsured through MSAA; and
Patient Assistance Programs