How to Care for Someone With Multiple Sclerosis

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By cadence
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Anyone who cares for someone with multiple sclerosis knows that it is not easy. Caring for someone with multiple sclerosis involves being patient, understanding the difficulties of the disease and helping the person with multiple sclerosis live as normal and comfortable of a life as possible. While caring for a person with multiple sclerosis may be difficult, by doing so, you are making an important difference in someone's life.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Understand how multiple sclerosis can affect people. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects people very differently. Some people may lose physical abilities, like walking, and others lose mental functions. Some people face difficulties with both physical and mental functions.

For some people, multiple sclerosis (MS) gets progressively worse in a continual manner. For other people, MS comes in the form of attacks, with a person functioning well at times and badly at others.
Step 2

Stay informed about recent developments in multiple sclerosis research. Nationalmssociety.org is a great resource to learn about recent research and multiple sclerosis information updates. When caring for someone with MS, it is helpful to know about possible upcoming treatments in case they may help the person that you know who has multiple sclerosis.
Step 3

Create a routine for the person with multiple sclerosis. A simple routine, which includes taking medications at a set time, is helpful if the multiple sclerosis affects a person's mental functions. A routine will help to keep the person with MS on track with the important things throughout the day.
Step 4

Keep the person's home safe for a person with multiple sclerosis. Installing ramps is a great idea, especially if the person who suffers from MS uses a wheelchair. Make sure a bathroom is easily accessible. Install a rod in the shower that the person with multiple sclerosis can hold on to, or buy a shower seat if necessary.
Step 5

Be patient with the person who has multiple sclerosis. Some people with multiple sclerosis take a long time to process and respond to information. Others take a long time to walk from place to place. It's important to not get angry with the person because they are doing their best, and being supportive and encouraging is a wonderful thing to do.
Step 6

Just because someone has multiple sclerosis does not mean that the person is not a normal person with normal feelings. Try to keep the person's life as normal as possible. Do not be afraid of things due to the person's disabilities. Go with the person to stores, restaurants and anywhere else that helps to keep a sense of normalcy and stability in the person's life.
Step 7

Don't take things too personally. Some people with multiple sclerosis display symptoms of hate and anger. These feelings are not towards you. Multiple sclerosis can affect a person's personality, and frustration with the disease may cause anger as well. Try not to get angry with the person who has MS - the disease can be quite frustrating, and the person is simply displaying emotion in a way that they know how to.
Step 8

Join support groups for multiple sclerosis caretakers. Speaking with others who understand what you are going through is helpful to keep you sane. After all, multiple sclerosis is a terrible disease, and it can take a toll on you to care for someone who suffers from MS all day. Speaking with others who understand your concerns and feelings can help you get through the tough times.
Step 9

Allow yourself to have some alone time. Caring for someone with multiple sclerosis may be a full time job for you, but once in a while, you need a break. Go to the movies, go out to dinner, or just relax for a while - you deserve it.

Comments

JIN1128 said

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on 2/17/2009 Thanks for the information.

jamaclassics said

on 2/17/2009 Insightful and helpful article. Caregivers have it hard.

luv2laugh said

on 2/16/2009 I deal with this M-F with a client of mine. I see with family members it can be so hard to separate your own emotions when dealing with a special disabilities adult or child. nice article.