Daily life with multiple sclerosis can be challenging, especially without the right support network. The aim of MS home care is to remove as many of those challenges as possible, helping those with the condition to manage on a day-to-day basis.
In this blog, we’d like to cover some of the basics of multiple sclerosis care. We’ll be talking about the help carers can provide, how care can bring a higher level of independence, and the best way to find a carer that’s right for you.
What Can Our Carers Do?
An MS home carer can help with a wide range of tasks from exercising to meal planning. If you/your loved one needs help with basic everyday maintenance-style tasks such as washing, ironing, and tidying, then a carer can take that work on.
At the same time, carers can also be great for their patients’ mental health. Any mobility issues, particularly those that get worse with age, can often discourage people from engaging in social activities. In the short term, this can seem like the sensible, risk-averse option, but in the long term, this often leads to isolation and loneliness.
A carer can help by not only encouraging activities but by getting rid of any obstacles that might stand in the way of them.
It’s All About The Patient
The effects of multiple sclerosis can vary a lot from patient to patient, as well as change over time. For some, it can have a strong impact on memory and cognition. For others, it’s more of a mobility issue.
It should go without saying that what’s right for one patient won’t always be right for another. Our focus as carers is all about maximising the patient’s quality of life. For us that means listening to and respecting what the individual patient needs.
Finding the Right Carer
Finding a carer isn’t just about finding someone who can do the job. Carers spend a lot of time with their patients, getting to know them as more than just someone with a condition.
This is important because, fundamentally, the role of an MS home carer is to help their patient gain more independence. The only way to help someone be independent is by truly understanding their wants and needs.
All of this to say that finding the right home carer is often about asking questions up front and communicating your/your loved one’s needs.
To start your journey towards MS home care, call today at 01932 901444 or email us at info@arbourcare.co.uk.
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