If you have advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), you may find that you need more help than you used to. Tasks that you or your family members could handle in the past may have gotten more difficult over time. You might need to consider having additional help from a professional caregiver.
This is going to be an emotional moment for you and your loved ones. It marks a new phase of your condition, and you'll have a lot of feelings about the situation. You may mourn the loss of independence, and you'll have to adjust to having a new person come into your home regularly.
How a Caregiver Can Help
As time goes on, you may find that having an experienced caregiver in your life is a positive change. Caregivers for MS typically help with a specific set of tasks. Their responsibilities usually cover needs including:
- Medical assistance such as physical therapy, managing bladder and bowel needs, and administering IV medications
- Personal care such as help with showering, shaving, and dressing
- Homemaking tasks like shopping, cooking, and cleaning
- Companionship
- Psychological support
Benefits of Having a Caregiver
Handing off a set of responsibilities to a professional caregiver might give you and your family an immediate sense of relief. Your stress level might drop significantly if you're not worried about who will do the jobs that now belong to your caregiver. You can reclaim the time and energy those tasks used to take. Your relationship with your family members may improve.
Professional caregivers arrive with knowledge and experience that you and your family might not have. If they have worked with other families coping with multiple sclerosis, they will be able to apply their knowledge to your situation. They may have great ideas that make life better for you and your loved ones. They might also be able to spot problems that require a doctor and help you get care quickly.
A caregiver is also likely to become a trusted friend over the time you spend together. They will get to know you and the people around you and be a part of your support network. A compassionate caregiver will be able to offer advice and emotional support to you and your family for many years.
