How to Care for a Loved One With Multiple Sclerosis

Caring for someone with a disease such as Multiple Sclerosis can be both stressful and rewarding. When the patient is someone you love, you are even more invested in their well-being. Find ways to share the burden placed on them by this devastating disease while finding time to care for yourself as well.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Caregiver support group
• Neurologist
• Physical therapist

1. Educate yourself. The best thing you can do for the loved one you care for is understand how Multiple Sclerosis works and what kind of symptoms they may expect to encounter.
2. Offer assistance but do not try to overcompensate. For many, the disabilities which accompany MS take a toll on the spirit as well as the body, affecting self-esteem and self-image. By helping out when asked and allowing your loved one to care for himself when able, you can be supportive of body and mind.
3. Attend doctor's appointments when asked. Remember that the confidentiality between patient and doctor must be respected and you should only expect to attend those appointments into which you are invited.
4. Work with your loved one's physical or occupational therapists to help continue therapies at home. There are a multitude of stretching exercises and other physical activities that may decrease the pain associated with muscle spasticity in MS, many of which require the help of a partner.
5. Listen when your loved one wishes to speak about their illness. Having a disease such as Multiple Sclerosis can seem like a very lonely road for many patients. By offering a non-judgmental ear to your loved one, you can provide them with a powerful outlet for expression of their fears and pain associated with the disease.
6. Assist your loved with the maintenance of their disease modifying therapy. Since all of the drugs available to treat MS are delivered by injection, your loved one may need physical assistance in administering these injections.

Tips & Warnings

• Depression occurs very often in people with MS. As a caregiver, you must learn to recognize the signs of depression and help your loved one find the help that they need through a qualified physician. Signs that a patient with MS may be depressed can include loss of interest or appetite, sleeplessness or insomnia, expression of the wish to die or increased irritability.

Who Can Help: