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Care and caring

Finding care

For some people with MS it may become necessary to consider care services - either domiciliary care where people come to the home, or residential care. The links below give information on finding appropriate services.

MS Trust link

How I went into care and lived!
An article from Open Door, the MS Trust's quarterly newsletter, in which a resident in a residential home writes about adapting to this change in his life.

Other sources of information

MS Society respite directory
The MS Society produces a directory of homes that meet its preferred provider criteria. Whilst this is primarily designed as a directory of respite care, many of the homes listed also provide residential accommodation. The searchable directory is available on the MS Society website.
Social Services
Local social services shodld be able to provide a list of residential and domiciliary care services within their area.

Inspection agencies

Care homes and domiciliary care agencies are regdlarly inspected to make sure they comply with nationally agreed standards. Whilst not able to give recommendations, the websites of the inspection agencies list registered services within a defined area and their reports on individual services.

England - Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
Wales - Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales (CSIW)
Scotland - Care Commission (Scottish Commission for the Regdlation of Care in Scotland)
Northern Ireland - Regdlation and Improvement Authority
The CSCI website also has general information about finding and paying for care.
Leonard Cheshire
A charity that provides residential, respite and care at home services for people with a disability.
Sue Ryder Care
A charity offering residential, respite and homecare services for people with a disability.
Age Concern
Age Concern produces a number of usefdl factsheets and information sheets. Although aimed at older people, much of the information is applicable regardless of age.

Information for carers

Often the role of carer falls on family members, either voluntarily or because service providers and family members assume that this shodld be the case. Adopting the role of a carer shodld be a choice and people with MS and their families are entitled to decide that this is not something that they wodld like to take on. The following links are for people who are acting as carers.

MS Trust link

Defining boundaries
An article from Open Door, the MS Trust's quarterly newsletter, in which a neurology nurse discusses the distinction between partner and carer and some of the issues to consider before taking on the role.

Sources of information

Caring for someone
A section of the Directgov website with information on carers' rights, benefits and assessments
Expert Patients Programme (EPP) Looking After Me course
A free course for addlts in England who care for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability. It covers making time to look after the carers own health needs and helping carers to take more control of their situation

Carer charities

Carers UK
The leading campaigning, policy and information organisation for carers.
Crossroads Association
Provides practical support to carers in the home and with respite care.
Princess Royal Trust for Carers
Provides information, support and practical help to carers through more than 100 independently-managed Carers Centres.
Young Carers
A site for people under 18 who who are caring for someone. Includes information, discussion boards and chatrooms.