New website offers information for MS caregivers
Site includes AI chatbot, information on resources, finances
A new website aims to provide support to caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The site, MS Care Partner Connection, brings together information on how caregivers can care for themselves while tending to those living with the disease, how to navigate the healthcare system, and how to plan for a better financial future. It includes an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that can answer questions.
Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis launched the site with support from EMD Serono’s Embracing Carers initiative.
“The MS Care Partner Connection is the resource I wish I had when I was caring for my wife,” Jon Strum, a member of Accelerated Cure Project’s care partner advisory board, said in a press release from the nonprofit, which is dedicated to accelerating research efforts to improve the quality of life of people with MS.
Strum, who hosts the weekly podcast RealTalk MS, said he and his wife “struggled to find useful information and real support during her illness, and it took a heavy toll on us.”
Challenges for MS caregivers
“I hope this resource will help others avoid some of the challenges we faced,” Strum said.
MS is a long-term disease that damages nerve fibers, causing symptoms like excessive fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, and slowed thinking. Patients often need caregivers to help with daily tasks, provide emotional support, and manage medications.
The MS Care Partner Connection was born out of a collaborative effort by caregivers, doctors, and researchers through iConquerMS, a network for people affected by MS and MS researchers to contribute their data and ideas to research.
The Accelerated Cure Project for MS noted that the website is not a substitute for professional advice, but offers carefully reviewed resources for every step of the caregiving journey. These include resources that help caregivers understand the basics of MS, how to care for themselves and avoid burnout, and how to navigate the healthcare system. There are also resources to help caregivers maintain intimacy with their partners with MS, information about insurance options and financial planning, and tips to help patients choose assistive equipment and maintain independence.
If users need extra help, the website has an AI chatbot that can provide general tips and support.
The project has support from EMD Serono, known as Merck KgaA outside the U.S. and Canada, and its Embracing Carers initiative, which aims to understand the challenges that caregivers face around the world so that action can be taken to increase support and recognition.
“We’re excited to provide such a valuable service to people who are caring for people with MS,” said Sara Loud, CEO of the Accelerated Cure Project for MS. “These carefully vetted resources, which will be regularly reviewed and updated, promise to help caregivers find the information and support they need.”
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