Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive disease that many people develop early in life and live with the symptoms and side effects of their disease their entire lives. The symptoms can vary from person to person, and the path of the disease’s progression will also vary. For some, they’ve spent years in remission, but as they’ve aged, they’re now finding symptoms develop that are restricting their ability to move and wonder how they can continue to live independently without disability care.
Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
With Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the immune system determines that the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers is an unwanted presence in the body and begins to attack those areas. The damage created causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. After a time, the damage is severe and permanent, and remission from symptoms diminishes.
Early Symptoms of MS
- Double or blurry vision
- Tingling
- Lack of coordination
- Weakness and numbing of limbs on one side of the body
- Vertigo
- Fatigue
- Slurred speech
- Bowel issues
- Cognitive problems
Advanced Symptoms of MS
- Walking difficulties due to imbalance
- Muscle weakness making standing and/or lifting items difficult
- Spasms and tremors
- Severe pain
- Bladder and bowel issues
- Speech issues
Disability Care Can Help Your Loved One Continue Living at Home
If your elderly loved one has developed some of the advanced symptoms of MS, her care needs will change and need to be more on-hand and consistent. Your loved one may need help with many daily activities and may need someone to move in with her to help her continue to live in her home.
Disability care programs will meet with you and your elderly loved one to determine where he needs the most help and how they can step in and assist so your loved one can continue living independently. Each person will have different care needs, so the disability care provider will ask many questions about how your loved one navigates his day, what he’s confident about doing, and what he struggles with.
Some Areas a Disability Care Provider Can Assist with
Personal Care
If your loved one needs assistance with grooming tasks such as shaving or combing and styling her hair, a trained disability care provider can help. The provider can also help with other personal care needs, such as bathing and washing.
Transportation and Mobility Services
If your loved one needs help getting from one place to another—whether it’s as small as crossing the room or as long as a drive to her appointments—a trained disability care provider can help ensure she can get where she needs to go safely.
Meal Preparation
From helping your loved one go to the grocery store and get her groceries to helping her chop up fresh veggies to preparing an entire meal, a disability care provider can help ensure your loved one eats well and has the nutrients she needs for her body to be as strong as it can be. Having a helping hand will reduce the chances that your loved one begins to live only on take-out or frozen meals.
Medication Management
Your loved one may have multiple medications she needs to take to stay strong and healthy with her disease. This can be overwhelming, and elderly individuals may forget doses or mis-dose themselves. A trained person helping with medication management can make sure your loved one takes what she needs when she needs it and no more.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Disability Care in Tampa, FL, please contact the caring staff at Family First Healthcare Services today at (813) 461-8000.
Family First Healthcare Services is a top provider of in-home health services in Tampa, Bradenton, Brandon, Riverview, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Town ‘n’ Country, Florida, and surrounding areas.
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