Sociedade Portuguesa de Esclerose Múltipla

Sociedade Portuguesa de Esclerose Múltipla (SPEM), translated Portuguese Society of Multiple Sclerosis, was created in 1984, and it's considered a Private Institution of Social Solidarity whose mission is to contribute to improve the living conditions of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), family members and caregivers. Currently with a total of 4550 members, SPEM develops its activity in different but complementary areas, such as: - Social service: It provides information about SPEM and MS and it offers social responses that are most suited to each case. - Occupational activities: As a community-based social response, it was created the Activities and Training Center for Inclusion, where the ESC volunteers are working mostly, that helps to develop relational, personal and social skills, as well as to promote the well-being, quality of life, training for social and professional inclusion, through different types of activities. Besides this, it's also a way to provide food and personal care and therapeutic support on a daily basis. - Home support: It satisfies the basic needs of people with MS and their families, namely hygiene services, distribution of meals and care of clothes. - Social Rehabilitation: it intervenes with public authorities and competent bodies, specially in the areas of health and social protection, for an efficient patient support and access to therapies, such as psychologists, rehabilitation and physiotherapy professionals, and lawyers.