Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Live In Care

Being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis can be life changing but doesn’t necessarily mean loss of independence.  Live in care from Helping Hands is a full-time care solution that enables people to continue living in their own homes, supported by a fully trained carer who also lives with you.

With 25% of our younger clients diagnosed with MS, many of whom have been with us for 10 years or more, training our live in carers to understand MS and how your symptoms impact on day to day living is vital.

We take the emotional wellbeing and dignity of the people we support and care for extremely seriously. By supporting people to live in their own homes, we often see a positive impact on wellbeing and confidence, as people are able to keep their support and social networks, providing essential continuity and familiarity.

Control of your own life

With a live in carer, you remain in control of your life, and we provide the appropriate level of support to suit your needs.  That means supporting you to achieve the things that matter to you most – this could be finding employment, support at university, having an active social life, learning new skills, or feeling good about yourself.

What is different about our live in carers?

• Our carers are trained to promote self-management of symptoms, independence and choice. 
• They will encourage self-help strategies, such as writing things down and doing tasks in sequence, if your MS symptoms suddenly worsen
• Our carers also appreciate the need for planning activities with you, so that if bouts of fatigue kick in, the impact on you can be managed
• Our carers have a “can-do” attitude – and will tackle day to day challenges head on, so that mobility or other issues don’t necessarily mean that things aren’t possible
• Most importantly, our carers know that supporting someone with MS is about communication, encouragement, understanding, reassurance and patience, so that you can take full and active control of your life. We then work with you, your family and friends, and other healthcare professionals to make sure this happens.

Our Approach

We understand that MS takes on many different forms and is always unique to the person but we always concentrate on the things you can do, not what MS prevents you from doing. 

Helping Hands has a very flexible approach to supporting someone with MS.

• Getting a good match between yourself and your carer is vital so we don’t just look at a carer’s experience and knowledge. We look to match people with the same interests, likes and dislikes, or sense of humour -  we ensure that you feel completely comfortable with your live in carer
• Our live in carers will listen and try to understand how you are feeling – so you feel you’re getting the right level of support in the right areas. Being responsive is key, especially if you experience a sudden severity of your symptoms
• We completely  fit around your routine and choices – and deliver support that’s unique to you
• Open communication is so important, so we always look for feedback and carry out regular reviews with yourself, your family and friends  to ensure you feel comfortable with the support you are  receiving