When MS changes everyday life: First steps to support at home

Typical symptoms in everyday life

The disease is very individual, but many sufferers have similar challenges. MS is also known as the disease with 1,000 faces. Possible symptoms may include the following:

• Coordination problems - balance, unsteady gait, difficulty gripping

• Tiredness (fatigue) - physical and/or mental exhaustion

• Bladder and bowel problems - loss of control over urination and bowel movements, partial or complete incontinence

• Visual disturbances - blurred vision, double vision or impaired vision

• Emotional changes - depression, mood swings, rarely also anxiety

• Sensory disorders - tingling, numbness or pain

• Muscle weakness - partial or complete paralysis of certain muscles

• Pain - shooting or persistent, in certain parts of the body

   

Support in everyday life with MS - timing and options

There are many moments in life with MS when support can make everyday life noticeably easier. It is often everyday situations that suddenly become a challenge.

Climbing stairs , for example, can become dangerous if your legs give out or your coordination is no longer reliable. Showering or personal hygiene can also be difficult if balance and mobility are limited. Even when cooking , it is often the case that exhaustion becomes too great before the meal is ready. And last but not least, the fear of being alone can be a burden - the worry that something will happen without anyone being able to help.

Support here means not only practical help, but also security and relief - for more peace of mind and quality of life in everyday life.

This doesn't always have to involve traditional care - there are various forms of support that can be combined individually. Relatives such as partners, family or close friends often take on everyday tasks. Sometimes all it takes is some help from a neighbor, such as a short visit or a small helping hand. If you are dependent on professional support, you can make use of public Spitex, which mainly covers nursing services with a doctor's prescription. In addition, there is private Spitex, which works more flexibly and individually - and is also available without a prescription or IV level. There are also respite services for relatives that provide care on an hourly basis, giving the family a much-needed break.

Help even without a care level

Many people believe that you first need an official care degree in order to receive support. However, this is not true. Help in everyday life can start very gently and gradually. It is often enough for relatives to take on small tasks or for a consultation to help assess the actual need. Support does not have to be comprehensive immediately, but can be built up gradually - for example with just a few hours a week. This principle of "gentle relief" means: not changing everything at once, but accepting exactly as much help as is needed at the time. This lowers the threshold for seeking support in the first place.

Avoiding excessive demands in care - together instead of alone

Many relatives want to provide the best possible support for people with multiple sclerosis. However, the demand to "manage everything alone" often leads to them reaching their own limits. Typical warning signs such as irritability, exhaustion or feelings of guilt show that the burden is becoming too great.

It is particularly important in such situations to realize that seeking professional support is not a sign of weakness - on the contrary. External help can strengthen the relationship between those affected and their relatives, provide relief and enable both sides to recharge their batteries. Relatives do not have to bear the challenges alone, but can and should seek support.