A number of chronic conditions or other afflictions may hamper a patient and limit their mobility or independence. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer’s, for example, may require that a patient have multiple sclerosis care plans on hand, or at least disease management plans or home care. Dementia care and multiple sclerosis care plans, for example, may go a long way toward improving a patient’s quality of life and preventing their condition from interfering too much with their everyday life. A patient may also be taken out of harm’s way when they have at-home care assistance if they suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or need multiple sclerosis care plans, and such multiple sclerosis care plans or dementia care can be provided by many different medical staffs. How might this be done?
Multiple Sclerosis
This condition cannot be cured, but its cause has been identified. Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, causes the body’s immune system to target and damage the myelin sheath that coats brain cells. This disrupts communication between brain cells with each other and the nerves in the body, causing many varying symptoms. Some common symptoms may include very blurry or double vision, for example, as well as general weakness and dizziness. A patient may also get considerable numbness in their arms or legs, or on one side of the body, and they may also suffer from bowel or bladder problems. In more serious cases, a patient with MS may even lose the ability to walk, and they may need assistance with their everyday life. Such symptoms may present themselves for a time, then fade away and then relapse after some time. A person should see their doctor at once if they are suffering these symptoms, and they may get a proper diagnosis. After a point, in fact, the MS case may have nonstop and more serious symptoms that may interfere with the patient’s mobility to a great extent. At-home care may be provided for a patient with MS, and assist them with everyday work such as errands, house keeping, and more.
Dementia
Meanwhile, dementia such as Alzheimer’s most commonly affects the elderly, and there is in fact a large population of Americans with Alzheimer’s today. Due to modern medicine and standards of living, Americans are living longer than ever before, and this trend is common in other parts of the world, most of all Japan. Today, many senior citizens suffer from dementia in some form or other, and this makes for a population of 5.7 million Americans who have Alzheimer’s. This figure is expected to rise to 14 million by the year 2050, and these patients will need care. Most often, Alzheimer’s patient are over the age of 65, and two in three of them are women. Only rarely does Alzheimer’s present in Americans under 65, known then as early-onset Alzheimer’s. This condition causes neurological breakdown, resulting in memory loss, as well as physical clumsiness. There is no means of curing Alzheimer’s, but steps can be taken to slow down its progress and minimize its impact on a person’s life.
An Alzheimer’s patient may continue to live in their own residence, and medical staff and family alike may visit to provide company, checkups (on the part of the medical staff) and help with any everyday needs. The house itself may be modified; furniture may be arranged in a practical and consistent manner, and tripping hazards such as rugs and cords may be removed. Sharp or flame-producing items such as knives or matches may be locked away to prevent the patient from hurting themselves or starting a fire. Meanwhile, family may help with housekeeping, such as cleaning, or taking care of the patient’s garden or pets. Family members may also help with shopping or errands, and their companionship may improve the patient’s social life. This will keep them happy, and also slow down the disease’s progress. Mental engagement such as conversation and doing puzzles won’t cure Alzheimer’s, but it may slow down the condition’s progress somewhat. And when going outside, such as for a walk, the patient may wear a photo ID name tag on their person. This may be useful if the patient is hurt or gets lost, and anyone who finds them may return them to their address safely.
