How can I get home health care for my friend with Multiple Sclerosis?
Answers
The need for in home health care for multiple sclerosis for people who are not elderly is not unusual. One thing to check is to see if your friend's health insurance covers any help from a liscensed home health care agency. It is important to get professional help to assess cand design a plan of care. The very real danger of falling may lead to getting too much help. The person with multiple sclerosis needs to be supported and trained in independence. At the same time your friend needs to know the most vulnerable times for needing help. What tasks is your friend able to perform with out assistance? When is help available from friends or family. If you can get help with the care planning, is it possible to hire helpers from the agency? Is there a registry? Do you need to network to hire privately? Is your friend able to manage her own care or does she need professional or family help for the coordination?
I hope you will be able to help. MS is so difficult because it strikes at such a young age. The necessity for help versus the desire for independence is delicate and needs friendship as well as nursing.
Hi BlueEyes, Thanks for this question! Adding to the expert answer you received, and for anyone else facing a similar situation...
You can search for local home health agencies right here on Caring.com: http://www.caring.com/local/home-health-agencies This directory includes ratings and reviews from family caregivers, seniors and eldercare experts -- to help in the selection process. If your friend has already been using an agency, please add a review to help other families: http://bit.ly/RateSrCare
This website also has information to help in the care of a loved one with MS: Multiple Sclerosis Caregiving as well as for preventing falls.
Hope these suggestions are helpful to you and please don't hesitate to get in touch if you need more. Thanks for asking!
