As a condition affecting over 150,000 people in the UK, with more than 7,000 estimated diagnoses each year, multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that, although currently incurable, has experienced significant advancements in its treatment and the quality of life for those living with it.
In this blog, we’ll examine how homecare can empower individuals living with MS to lead fulfilling lives.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
While many people have a basic understanding of what MS does to the body, we can briefly recap the definitions and symptoms before looking at its care in detail.
General definitions
MS is a chronic disease that directly affects the body’s central nervous system, the spinal cord and brain.
Although there is currently no cure for the disease, extensive research has allowed us to gain a better understanding of the condition, its underlying mechanisms, and its symptoms. This has also allowed for a better understanding of how to support and care for those who live with MS.
Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
While it can affect individuals in a variety of different ways, MS generally makes itself known in the body via a combination of the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Numbness
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Sexual problems
- Loss of coordination, incl. dizziness and clumsiness
- Stiffness, numbness and weakness
- Disordered speech and swallowing
- Loss of or impaired vision
- Intellectual impairment
Types of Multiple Sclerosis
Just as there are many symptoms that fall under the umbrella of MS, there are also several types of MS to be aware of. These include:
Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
The most common manifestation of MS, relapsing remitting MS, is identifiable through flare-ups of specific symptoms that may completely disappear, only to reappear again in time.
These flare-ups, also known as relapses, can last anywhere from just days to weeks at a time before remission.
Generally speaking, this kind of MS leads to secondary progressive MS.
Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Unlike relapsing remitting MS, the symptoms of secondary progressive MS are there all the time, or with only very occasional relapses. This kind of MS may also mean that symptoms intensify.
While entirely dependent on when the diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS occurs, secondary progressive MS has typically manifested around 10 to 20 years after such a diagnosis, but, thanks to advancements in disease-modifying therapies, progression can be slowed through relapse reduction.
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Primary progressive MS differs from other types of MS due to a general lack of remission in its symptoms; however, individuals may still experience infrequent or minor plateaus/relapses in some cases.
This kind of MS is far more likely to manifest in over-40s, and affects 10-15% of those first diagnosed with MS.
Homecare for multiple sclerosis
Due to the variety of symptoms that can fall under MS diagnoses, a multifaceted approach is required to manage these symptoms and empower the individual to live a fulfilling life.
The type of care needed to provide this experience is called complex care. Complex care is the preferred approach for several conditions besides MS, including Motor Neuron Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and spinal injuries.
When it comes to MS, the care responsibilities required broadly include:
Medical care
As discussed above, the journey of those who suffer from MS is not always linear. Throughout their life, and particularly during times of relapse, medication will be required to assist in the management of pain and to slow the progression of the disease.
Medication for MS is as diverse as its symptoms. It may take the form of infusions, injections, and orally administered drugs to manage flare-ups, consistent pain, and decelerate symptom progression.
Therefore, home care that includes medical care may encompass the administration of medication, as well as the management of medical equipment such as mechanical ventilators or tracheostomies.
Symptom management
In addition to medical care, direct symptom management is essential for the day-to-day functioning of individuals with MS.
From supporting the individual through assisted movement and functionality that would otherwise inhibit a variety of daily tasks, such as using the bathroom (including catheter and stoma care management), eating and drinking (including the use of a PEG tube), and completing household chores, complex care nurses can help fill in the gaps where MS has diminished agency.
In cases where symptoms are more severe and continuous support is needed, complex care may include overnight care.
Emotional support
As well as being physically challenging to manage, MS can exact a toll on the individual’s mental health.
With over 50% of those diagnosed with MS suffering from depression, studies show that ensuring that the individual feels emotionally supported can play a critical role in improving and maintaining the best quality of life possible when faced with chronic illness.
This emotional support also provides relief for the individual’s loved ones, who may benefit from guidance and support in navigating the condition’s symptoms.
Palliative Care
While MS itself is not fatal, the severity of the complications that can develop as a result may mean that palliative care is necessary.
In addition to the complex care described above, homecare services, such as those provided by Hamill Homecare, also offer palliative care. This care can include providing comfort for the individual, support with daily tasks, and emotional support for both the individual and their loved ones, while collaborating closely with other involved medical professionals.
Choosing your homecare provider
If you or a loved one requires support for MS (or any other condition that requires complex care), you can do so in several ways, including working with the local Council to provide financial support or through entirely private means.
Private
If you wish to pay in full for your care or that of a loved one, you can do so by selecting a private care provider, such as Hamill Homecare.
Funding through Self Directed Support (Option 2)
Those seeking financial support to secure care for themselves or a loved one can get help through Self Directed Support (SDS). Self-Directed Support is the way social care works in Scotland and helps give people more choice and control over the care they receive.
If you’re eligible for support, SDS lets you decide how that support is delivered – whether you want to manage the budget yourself, have a provider do it for you, or a mix of both. The goal is to make sure your care fits around your life, not the other way around.
If you would like to learn more about the types of care Hamill Homecare offers or have any specific questions about the care process, please contact our team today.