Home & Hearth Caregivers Helps Those with Multiple Sclerosis Through Whole-Person Centered Care
Many individuals living with multiple sclerosis depend on some level of assistance for their activities of daily living. A few hours a day of practical assistance from a professional caregiver who is trained in MS care can save energy sources from being drained. Nourishing a person’s mind, body and spirit are essential when helping a person with MS stay motivated and enabled. Here are a few of the ways a home care agency like Home & Hearth Caregivers of Chicago can help.
MIND – Professional caregivers can help individuals understand their multiple sclerosis symptoms and how to make lifestyle adjustments. For instance, they can help establish a daily routine, stressing the importance of limiting activities and taking regular rest periods to prevent fatigue and symptom exacerbations.
BODY – Physical limitations play a big part in caring for someone with MS. A professional caregiver can help through:
- Maintaining proper body alignment when positioning if the person with MS is on bed rest
- Protecting skin from friction, pressure, and excessive heat, moisture, or dryness
- Encouraging daily exercise and assisting with physical therapy
- Providing tasty, nourishing meals and assistance with eating if needed
SPIRIT – Keeping spirits high goes a long way in managing multiple sclerosis and making life more enjoyable. Professional caregivers are not only physical helpers but know tips to help lift spirits, such as:
- Offering comfort measures, such as gentle massage and warm (not hot) baths
- Encouraging independence by being sensitive to knowing when to take and then give back responsibility for tasks as symptoms come and go
- Providing emotional support
- Providing recommendations for devices designed to make daily activities more comfortable, such as built-up utensils, reaching devices, and sliding boards
With various adjustments made along the way, individuals with multiple sclerosis may look forward to a fulfilling and productive lifetime. Contact Home & Hearth Caregivers at 800-349-0663 for more information on how our in-home caregivers in Chicago can make a person with MS feel enabled, motivated and connected to others.