Providing Multiple Sclerosis Care at Home for Seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, CA
Visiting Angels Central Coast provides personalized, one-on-one care at home for seniors with multiple sclerosis in Santa Cruz, Marina, Scotts Valley and surrounding areas in CA
A multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis prompts a lot of questions for families. What does the future hold? Will symptoms get worse? Will professional care be needed? Unanswered questions can lead to fear and anxiety.
Learning as much as possible about MS and creating a plan will help you take back control. Visiting Angels Central Coast can help with multiple sclerosis care at home.
What Is MS?
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. MS can be unpredictable because the symptoms can be subtle or completely disabling. It stops different areas of the brain from communicating with each other and the body. Most MS patients are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.
What Causes MS?
When the body's immune system attacks the central nervous system, it causes damage, which slows or stops nerve transmission. There are many theories about what causes MS that involve immunology, genetics and viruses, but there is no proven cause.
What Are the Symptoms of MS?
Early symptoms often involve vision--blurred vision, vision loss and color blindness are common.
Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Numbness or tingling
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Difficulty walking
- Involuntary muscle spasms
- Bladder and bowel problems
- Cognitive and emotional changes
- Pain
- Depression
How Is MS Treated?
There is currently no cure for MS. Managing MS symptoms is a lifelong journey that begins at diagnosis. Medications may help relieve symptoms, while physical therapy and walking aids and braces can help with mobility. A team of medical professionals will likely be involved in your loved one’s treatment: doctors, neurologists, therapists, nurses and mental health professionals. Family members may be asked to help with everyday tasks. If caring for a senior loved one who is living with MS becomes overwhelming, consider MS care at home from Visiting Angels Central Coast.
MS and Muscle Weakness in Seniors
Multiple sclerosis is primarily diagnosed in early adulthood, but it can be discovered in later years. As the prognosis for MS sufferers improves, and the population ages, more of our elderly population will have MS.
Muscle weakness is a primary concern because it is a symptom of both the disease and aging. People with MS are at an increased risk of falls, so the risk is compounded for a senior with MS. At Visiting Angels Central Coast, we provide fall prevention solutions so seniors with MS in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties can get the support they need to stay safe and avoid fall-related risks as they manage symptoms of MS.
How Visiting Angels Central Coast Helps Seniors Living with MS
If your senior loved one has MS, he or she will likely need care at home. It could be a combination of help from a family caregiver and professional in-home care.
Visiting Angels Central Coast provides:
- Personal Care: We assist with meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, errands and transportation to appointments, mobility assistance, medication reminders and personal hygiene.
- Companion Care: We fulfill your loved one's social interaction and emotional support needs.
- Respite Care: We provide interim care to allow family caregivers a well-deserved break to relax and recharge.
For more information on how care at home from Visiting Angels Central Coast can provide the support your loved one needs while living with MS, call us at 831-430-0616.