Find out how staying active, eating healthily and setting up an adaptable care package can help people with MS maximise their overall quality of life.
With the right support in place, living well with multiple sclerosis is an entirely achievable goal.
Find out how staying active, eating healthily and setting up an adaptable care package can help people with MS maximise their overall quality of life.
Staying active
Regular exercise is a crucial part of living well with MS.
As the condition develops, you might experience tremors and difficulty moving. Your physiotherapist is likely to recommend an exercise programme to help you stay as active as possible.
These are the benefits of regular exercise:
- Enhance overall health
- Maximise mobility
- Decrease risk of developing secondary conditions, such as heart disease
- Improve muscle strength, fitness and weight control
Your physiotherapist is likely to recommend some of these exercise types:
- Light strength/weight-based exercises
- Aerobic exercises (walking/jogging, cycling etc.)
- Stretches (personal and assisted)
- Posture-related exercises
- Circular-mobility exercises
In the event of a relapse, your doctor is likely to recommend postponing exercise until steroid treatment has concluded.
Nutrition
There are relatively few specialist dietary recommendations for people with MS, however some specific dietary measures are thought to ease symptoms such as fatigue and constipation.
Though tests are ongoing, studies have suggested the following nutrients may be beneficial:
- Omega 3 (oily fish, walnuts etc.) and omega 6 (poultry, grains etc.)
- Vitamin D (promotes healthy bones/immune system, and possibly reduces MS disease activity)
- Biotin (thought to have an effect on disability progression)
Some evidence also suggests that reducing saturated fats can have a positive effect.
MS and live-in care
Living well with MS requires a personalised approach to care. Live-in care can be tailored to fit your precise needs, and support you in staying active and engaged as the condition develops.
Care adapted to your specific needs
Changing symptoms
With MS, symptoms can change from day to day.
Though a full-time carer may not always be required, your care plan should be adapted to give you as much independence as possible while also meeting your changing needs.
This is especially important for people diagnosed at a younger age.
Expert care techniques
At The Good Care Group, we work closely with a number of leading MS charities to ensure our processes are fully adaptable to your symptoms and put your preferences at the heart of the equation.
Our live-in carers are trained to assist with all primary symptoms of MS, including:
- Mobility
- Hearing/speech
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Pain
- Fatigue
Care adaptation
The NHS recommends a comprehensive care overview at least once per year for people with MS. With live-in care from The Good Care Group, this process happens every 3 – 6 months
As your condition develops, you may need access to additional mobility equipment. Your live-in care team will work alongside your occupational therapist to make sure all the right equipment’s in place.
Medication
A live-in care arrangement ensures that medically trained professionals will be on hand to administer medications in line with your doctor’s recommendations.
You’ll also need to keep up with your vaccines (including annual flu jabs), which your live-in care team can manage on your behalf.
Respite care
Live-in respite care can help give family carers a much-needed break, or support you while on holiday yourself.
If your symptoms are inclined to change, you can even set up a reactive arrangement whereby your care team only come in when you think your condition is such that extra help would be beneficial.
If you would like to learn more about how we can support you in living well with MS, call on our friendly team today.
