caregivers

In a nationwide survey of caregiver abuse and neglect among Americans with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), more than half of respondents reported some form of mistreatment, with psychological and financial abuse being the most common. Having a caregiver with a mental illness was the greatest risk factor for mistreatment, the survey…

Access to mental health services for children with a rare disease or other medical or mental health disorder is the focus of an online survey by therapists at Children’s Friend, an affiliate of the Seven Hills Foundation. The foundation, based in Worcester, Massachusetts, runs a variety of programs through…

Urinary tract infections are a common cause of hospitalization among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially older patients with progressive disease, and more attention should be given to their bladder, catheter, and general physical care, a U.K. study reported. These infections are often linked to an emergency hospital admission, and…

I like my husband. I like his generous heart, his humility, and his penchant for Tommy Bahama shorts, T-shirts, and flip-flops. Sure, I love him. Yet our love has changed throughout our 23-year marriage. We have traded passion for patience and lust for loyalty. While each exists, they are…

Last updated April 25, 2023 In June, the U.K. marks Carers Week, which got me thinking about how a chronic illness diagnosis often affects a patient’s entire family.  Most often, patients are the focus of a diagnosis, and the people around them are almost forgotten. The…

It was 4 a.m. and a crisis was brewing. I knew that this time, I’d be a nincompoop if I tried to deal with the situation myself, as I’d faced spectacular failures recently with the poop bit. I was still groggy from having taken diazepam to deal with my…

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s question is inspired by the forum post, “Life Is Better with a Local MS Nurse?” published on August 24, 2019.

Belong.Life has launched a free and anonymous social network app to offer support for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), their caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The app is called BelongMS and is now available…

Caring for children with multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect the mental health of their mothers over the long term, a study has found. The study, “Increased mental health care use by mothers of children with multiple sclerosis,” was published in the journal Neurology. People with…

To empower and support prospective mothers with multiple sclerosis (MS), MyHealthTeams — a free social network for people with chronic medical conditions — and pharmaceutical EMD Serono have launched the online Family Planning Resource Center. The new center operates within the network’s MyMSTeam, and is sponsored in…

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their caregivers appear to be just as satisfied with a video evaluation given by a neurologist using telemedicine as they have been with those done through an in-person visit, a review from the American Academy of Neurology reports. The review, “Teleneurology is neurology,”…

The National Health Service (NHS) England announced an initiative that aims to speed diagnoses and ensure better all-around care for people with progressive neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and motor neuron disease (MND). Experts at NHS England, as part of the NHS RightCare…

Rutgers Health is leading the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Diseases Program, the only program in the state of New Jersey designed specifically to support children with multiple sclerosis (MS). The support program seeks to promote children’s access to cutting-edge therapies and clinical trials, and to educate…

This summer marks three years since the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) launched its free online forum, designed to support, inform, and uplift members of the multiple sclerosis community. The organization encourages all affected by MS to make use of this resource. Called My MSAA Community, the platform…

The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) is encouraging family members, caregivers, and patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) to participate in World MS Day today. Created by MSIF and its members in 2009 to promote solidarity and bring hope to those affected by MS, the global initiative takes…

The latest research in multiple sclerosis (MS), along with the most recent advancements in treatment strategies and comprehensive care, will be presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, which beings today. Running through June 1 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, the…

Cognitive and neuropsychiatric problems caused by relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) — such as memory and processing issues, depression, and irritability — are the main source of strain among life partners of MS patients with mild disability, a study finds. The study, “Caregiver strain among life partners…

Complementing its nationwide network of multiple sclerosis (MS) research and clinical services centers, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has teamed up with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) to improve care for the veterans it serves and their families. The VA and the NMSS partnership was formalized…

MS Patient Groups React Favorably to Mayzent Approval, But Question Therapy’s Price Tag The approval of this medication is very good news. However, as the headline indicates, it comes with a relatively hefty cost. It’s approved for active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), and many of us have SPMS…

Caring for a loved one with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be exhausting, resulting in crankiness, sleepless nights, and excessive sadness, but many resources are available to help deal with the daily challenges of caregiving, said social worker, therapist, and wellness educator Lara Krawchuk. “Care partner fatigue is a normal and…

People who take care of their own needs while caring for a loved one with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to be successful, and enjoy a mutually rewarding relationship. And the best way to ensure that partners’ needs are met is for them to communicate openly and often.

In recognition of March as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is calling attention to the disease’s impact on families. More specifically, the nonprofit organization is focusing its awareness campaign on the topics “Relationships and MS” and “Spotlighting Care Partner Needs,” according…

I like to keep my life as normal as possible. This can be difficult given the physical challenges multiple sclerosis and chronic pain pose. Nevertheless, I try. Saturday was one of those days. I mistakenly assumed I could tackle Costco — the Goliath to my David. Hence, I must…

Healthcare specialists for multiple sclerosis patients in the U.K. with advanced disease and challenging needs are getting support and recognition through a new program from the MS Trust. Called the Advanced MS Champions Programme, it will recognize six MS specialist “champions” working with people with advanced MS, and their families…

This is going to be a hard column to write, and quite possibly it breaks all the rules of column writing by being a tough one to read! I’ve always found humor handy when facing adversity. On the Titanic, my last dying bon mot might well have been, “Hey,…

An international survey of caregivers and adults with neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), revealed that spasticity is a hidden burden, having a negative effect on the ability to perform everyday tasks, and that relieving its symptoms significantly improves patients’ quality of life. The survey was presented by…

Patients want to be more involved in their healthcare, but it’s not an easy process. I’ve written before about the hurdles we have to overcome to get some healthcare providers to communicate with us, to listen to what we have to say about our medical problems, and even…

Nurses who specialize in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the U.K. are handling heavier caseloads than recommended or preferred, resulting in patients going without the necessary care and support they deserve, the MS Trust reports. Particularly, the 2018 report notes that newer treatments require more complex and careful monitoring. However, it…

To more widely recognize and help those caring for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other chronic diseases, Merck KGaA (known in the U.S. and Canada as EMD Serono) is expanding its global Embracing Carers program to include Brazil and possibly China. “Caregivers are a hidden pillar within the…

EMD Serono has launched MS On My Mind with a goal of making people more aware of the emotional toll that multiple sclerosis (MS) can have on patients and caregivers. Patients are invited under the initiative to go to the MSIsOnMyMind.com website and finish the sentence “MS is on my…