EXPERT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) CARE FROM THE HOME CARE SPECIALISTS

At Oxford Aunts, we have helped many people living with MS to live meaningful and healthy lives in the comfort of their own homes. Many people faced with an MS diagnosis are young and may find it difficult to consider moving into a residential care home to get the care they need.

Our MS home care enables you to stay in your beloved home, with your family and friends around you, whilst receiving the care you need to improve your quality of life. All with the support of a dedicated carer who really understands MS and your needs.

With our fully managed home care service, families have reassurance at a time when they need it most. Our MS care at home is trusted by families across Oxfordshire and beyond to provide the support people living with MS need to enjoy greater independence and well-being at home.

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that is characterised by damaged nerve fibres (myelin). Because the nervous system is so essential to the body, the damage caused by MS can cause a wide range of symptoms. These symptoms result in various disabilities and challenges with daily living.

MS Symptoms

  • Fatigue
  • Problems with vision
  • Numbness/tingling
  • Spasms, stiffness and weakness in muscles
  • Problems with mental health
  • Problems with the bladder or bowel
  • General pain

How many people in the UK are living with multiple sclerosis?

There are approximately 100,000 people in the UK living with multiple sclerosis. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. It’s known to affect nearly three times as many women as men.

What are the stages of multiple sclerosis?

There are three main types of MS: Relapsing, Primary Progressive and Secondary Progressive.

Relapsing – In relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), people have attacks of new and old symptoms. Around 85% of people with multiple sclerosis are diagnosed with RRMS.

Primary progressive – With primary progressive MS, symptoms gradually get worse over time rather than appearing as sudden relapses. This type of MS is usually diagnosed in people in their 40s or 50s.

Secondary progressive – Secondary progressive MS (SPMS) is a stage of MS which often comes after relapsing-remitting MS. With this type of MS, your symptoms get increasingly worse – you’re no longer likely to have relapses where new or old symptoms reappear but then gradually get better.

THE HOME YOU LOVE IS BEST FOR MS CARE

Home care is becoming better understood as a real alternative to moving into a residential setting. With home care provided by Oxford Aunts, you’ll receive a high-quality home care service provided by a trusted and established provider – a service that has benefitted many families across the country for many years.

There are countless life-enriching benefits to staying at home with a highly trained and experienced carer dedicated to you instead of facing the upheaval and worry of moving into a care or nursing home. With an Oxford Aunts carer, you can live life your way with a tailored plan of care delivered by a compassionate carer on a one-to-one basis – something that is difficult to achieve in any residential care setting.

All our dedicated carers are experienced in how to care for someone living with MS. Our nurturing and compassionate carers recognise the importance of maintaining control and choice. Observant carers are aware of the fluctuating and changing nature of MS and are responsive and proactive to the evolving needs of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis.

We operate throughout Oxfordshire and its surrounding counties, and our regional teams are here to ensure that you and your family receive the exceptional care you deserve while managing the specific needs associated with MS.

OUR HIGH-QUALITY MS CARE SERVICE INCLUDES:

  • A comprehensive assessment of your needs – our assessment will address not just your care needs but how you wish to live your life.
  • Careful matching of an experienced and dedicated carer that matches your personality and lifestyle.
  • A highly tailored care plan created using a multidisciplinary approach in consultation with other healthcare professionals and community organisations involved in your care and family members or loved ones.
  • Unrivalled support from a team of two care management experts local to you.
  • Domestic and household tasks.
  • Cooking, meal planning, shopping and preparation.
  • 24-hours a day out-of-hours emergency support should you need it.

THE BENEFITS OF MS CARE AT HOME

Receiving care in the comfort and security of home offers many life-changing benefits for people living with MS and their families:

  • One-to-one care provided by an experienced carer dedicated solely to your holistic needs.
  • Receiving personalised care at home, surrounded by your family and treasured possessions, has far-reaching benefits for people living with long-term conditions like MS.
  • Person-centred care provided at home allows you to live life your way, according to your own needs and preferred lifestyle.
  • Home care can help you stay connected to the community you love – including friends you socialise with, shops you love, hobbies you have and local groups you attend.
  • Receiving care in your own home can help you avoid slips and falls, unnecessary hospital admissions and infections.
  • Home care costs are comparable to the best care homes and often less for complex needs and couples.
  • Families enjoy the reassurance that their loved ones are receiving the very best care whilst getting the most out of their lives.

HOW WE CAN PROVIDE MS SUPPORT

An Oxford Aunts’ experienced and dedicated carer will provide a range of live-in care for MS patients at home, including:

As an established live-in care provider in Oxford, we have built strong relationships with local healthcare professionals, including GPs, district nurses, local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and other charitable organisations and community healthcare services. This means we can provide a multidisciplinary approach to multiple sclerosis care at home that is focused on improving health and well-being whilst avoiding any unnecessary hospital admissions.

We know how important companionship is in later life. Our compassionate and respectful carer will be matched to not only meet your MS care needs, but we look to match personalities and interests. We know this makes for a fulfilling and pleasurable way of life based on friendship and companionship. Whilst respecting your privacy, our carer is trained to support your psychological and emotional needs too.

Our carers are trained in management of medications, which is so important in supporting someone living with MS. They understand the fluctuating nature of the condition and will proactively monitor and administer medications, ensuring they are effectively managed and any prescription required is ready as and when you need it.

Whilst personal care relates to undertaking the day-to-day tasks of caring, including washing, bathing and getting dressed and undressed, it also considers a person’s confidence and self-esteem. There is nothing better than having freshly painted nails, or your hair styled how you like it – our carers will make sure you feel your best every day.

Oxford Aunts carers have a strong understanding of falls prevention and how conditions can impact on mobility. In conjunction with our experienced Care Assessors, and liaison with multidisciplinary teams, such as Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, we can provide you with advice on the equipment required for you to remain safe and as independent as possible at home.

Your live-in carer will carefully plan all your meals and will shop for the groceries as needed. They will then cook healthy, nutritious and enjoyable food, taking into account your likes and dislikes. Many of our clients and carers enjoy cooking together as a shared pastime. Unlike a care home, you will be able to eat as and when you like.

At Oxford Aunts we know how important it is that you keep connected to your local community – whether it is a local community group you have attended for years, a stroll around a much-loved shop or sitting peacefully in a local park – our committed carers will facilitate your enjoyment outside of the home and support you to do as much as you wish.

With isolation a concern as we get older, our proactive carers will facilitate you having visitors as and when you wish. Whether it is a catch up with friends, or a family occasion or celebration our carer will meet all your socialisation needs so you can enjoy life at home.

Our carer will make sure your home is clean, tidy and well-kept to the standards you should expect. Everything from dusting, cleaning, vacuuming, washing and ironing to light garden work – our carer will ensure your home is looking its very best every day.

We know how important a much-loved pet is and how difficult caring for it may be when faced with other health concerns that are impacting day-to-day life. With an Oxford Aunts carer you can be assured that your pet will be well cared for, whilst you continue to get the benefits and enjoyment from your beloved pet, as you always have.

WHEN CAN MS CARE BE USED?

Flexible MS care by Oxford Aunts can be used in many different situations and at various stages of the illness to support your care needs, including:

  • Live-in multiple sclerosis nursing care offers round-the-clock care and support for those experiencing more severe symptoms and side effects due to the fluctuating nature of MS.
  • Our respite service supports family carers so they can enjoy a much-needed break to rest and recharge. Our respite MS care service can give you the break you need whilst you see whether 24-hour live-in care would work for you and your family.
  • Palliative care for multiple sclerosis can be provided as a live-in care service in the comfort of your home, negating the need to move into a residential setting or a hospice. Our carers make sure a person’s health needs are met whilst ensuring they have all their wishes, choices, and preferences met.
  • Care for couples so you can stay together as a loving couple with the personalised support you need and ensure you both have a good quality of life.

WHY CHOOSE OXFORD AUNTS FOR SPECIALIST MS CARE?

Our home care for multiple sclerosis enables people to live well in their own homes with the care and support they need from a carefully well-matched, trained and dedicated carer. With an Oxford Aunts’ carer, you can be reassured that you are receiving high-quality MS care and that family members get all the support they need during what we know can be a difficult time.

Expert carer matching

Over the past 50 years, we have established a reputation for matching carers with our clients to ensure they meet all their needs – this is not just about matching skills but ensuring backgrounds and personalities are aligned so both client and carer can enjoy life together. On the odd occasion we do not get the match right, we respond efficiently to find another carer whilst minimising any disruption to the service.

Continuity of care makes all the difference

Our carers will come and live with you or visit regularly to provide care and support for a longer period than might be offered by other live-in care providers. We know that this allows a strong relationship to be formed and a deeper understanding of our clients’ MS care needs, offering consistency and continuity of care.

Expertly trained carers

Our market leading carer training programme has been created with leading experts and goes well beyond the mandatory requirements. This equips our carers to support those living with MS, which requires greater levels of monitoring, care and support. Our carers never stop learning new skills that ensure they continue to deliver the highest standards of MS care.

A fully managed and regulated MS care service

Our fully managed and regulated MS care service means our carers are employed and managed by us while caring for you. A care management team made up of experts manages them and ensures they are supervised and supported to provide the high standards of care we are known for. If you use an introduction agency, you will be left to manage the carer, pay the carer and organise holiday cover once you are introduced to them and they start to care for you.

For the many families Oxford Aunts supports, we know this provides lots of reassurance whilst removing the burden of carefully managing the care arrangement for their family member or loved one.

Rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

We are proud to have been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in all five measures – safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led. We know this provides families with peace of mind that their loved one is receiving the best possible care.

Unrivalled support near you

We operate throughout Oxfordshire and its surrounding counties. Each regional team comprises a dedicated care assessor local to you who is on hand to provide unrivalled levels of support to you, your family and our carer. They are supported by a care manager at our central office who handles all other aspects of care delivery to ensure a quality service is delivered every time.

CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

We recognise that caring for a loved one with MS can be challenging for the entire family. Our commitment to providing unparalleled support extends to families facing the complexities of MS.

Remember that the specific needs of someone with MS vary greatly, so it’s essential to communicate openly with your loved one and their healthcare team to provide the most effective support tailored to their situation.

Here are some ways that you can provide support for your loved ones living with MS:

MS Symptoms

  • Educate Yourself: Learn about MS to better understand its symptoms, progression, and treatment options. Knowledge can empower you to provide informed support.
  • Be Empathetic: MS can be physically and emotionally challenging. Show empathy and patience, and be a good listener when your loved one wants to talk.
  • Accompany Medical Appointments: Attend doctor’s appointments with them, take notes, and, where appropriate, ask questions to ensure they receive the best care.
  • Encourage Physical Activity: Support them in staying active with exercises suitable for their condition, as prescribed by a healthcare professional.
  • Manage Medications: Assist in organising and administering medications and keep track of any side effects or changes in their health.
  • Diet and Nutrition: Help them maintain a balanced diet and consider any dietary restrictions or recommendations from their healthcare provider. Meal delivery services can provide a helpful alternative to cooking.
  • Respite Care: Consider arranging respite care to give yourself and other caregivers a break. This will ensure you are well-rested to provide the support your loved one needs. Respite care can also provide new opportunities for socialisation.
  • Promote Independence: Encourage your loved one to remain as independent as possible, adjusting your support as their needs change. Don’t ‘take over’ or do everything for the individual. You want to encourage their own independence and autonomy as much as possible.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US ABOUT YOUR MS CARE NEEDS

Our expert care advisors are here to help you understand the options available to you.

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