LIVING WELL WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS), FOR ALL OF LIFE

At Prestige Nursing & Care we believe that everyone living with multiple sclerosis can lead a happy, fulfilled and healthy life with the right support in place, tailored to their individual needs.

As an established provider we have been supporting individuals living with multiple sclerosis to have an improved quality of life in their own homes and communities for over 75 years. We have been trusted by families up and down the country to provide care for all of life, evolving the level and type of care we provide to meet changing needs.

YOUR HOME IS BEST FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CARE AND SUPPORT

We know through our experience of supporting thousands of people and their families, that faced with the prospect of needing long-term multiple sclerosis care and support that most people would prefer to stay in the safety, comfort and familiarity of their treasured home and not endure the disruption caused from a move away.

For many a move from home can cause much upset, worry and for some confusion. Having routines imposed on how you live, leaving your loved one, feeling isolated from family and friends or your local community are all common concerns experienced by those facing a move into a care home, specialist care setting or facing a prolonged stay in hospital.

Staying at home with specialist MS care means that you can continue to live life your way, whilst benefitting from one-to-one care provided by a competent and compassionate carer, who will positively impact your life.  They will focus on effectively managing your multiple sclerosis care needs, so you can have an improved quality of life with enhanced well-being.

WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition which can give rise to serious disability although sometimes it can be mild. MS affects the spinal column and brain causing a wide range of symptoms resulting from the formation of lesions across the central nervous system.  The severity of these lesions will determine the severity of symptoms for someone living with MS.

In the UK it is estimated that more than 130,000 people are diagnosed with MS and it affects three times more women than men.  Whilst it is not known what causes MS, research suggests that genetic and environmental factors play a part.  It is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30, so impacts relatively young people.  During the early stages of multiple sclerosis, the central system can sometimes repair or compensate by forming a different pathway. In such instances, symptomatic episodes, or flare-ups can be followed by intermittent recovery. Periods between flare-ups, or attacks, are known as remission periods which can last for years at a time. About half of those with relapsing remitting MS will go onto develop progressive MS within 15 to 20 years, and the risk of this happening increases the longer a person has the condition.

Common symptoms experienced by those living with multiple sclerosis include:

  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty walking
  • Numbness and tingling
  • Unexplained pain
  • Muscle stiffness and spasm
  • Problems with balance and co-ordination
  • Problems with vision, most commonly blurred vision.
  • Difficulty in controlling bladder
  • Problems with thinking, learning and planning
Carer with Client and Music

OUR APPROACH TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CARE AT HOME

At Prestige Nursing & Care we provide a care and support package that enables you to live a happy and fulfilled life in the safety and comfort of your own home.  The support we provide will be guided by you and tailored to your needs, giving you choice over how you live your life and the support you want.

We work collaboratively with our clients and their families to develop a thorough care and support plan that accurately reflects a person’s holistic needs.  We also adopt a partnership approach to working with local authority partners, NHS services, multidisciplinary teams, therapists and other community bodies involved in a person’s care.  This means we are well-informed so we can provide continuity of care ensuring the right care is in place at the right time, whilst responding efficiently to changing needs and strengthening care provision when required.

Our carers will be expertly trained to understand multiple sclerosis and how it can progress.  They will adopt a flexible approach to caring for someone with multiple sclerosis that recognises the fluctuating nature of the symptoms the condition presents.  We ensure our carers are trained in medications management and they will ensure you keep on top of what we know can be a complex medications regime to ensure symptoms are effectively managed.

Our carers are proactive in helping you maintain a balanced and nutritious diet and will encourage and support you to complete your exercise regime working alongside your physiotherapist.  We know how much fatigue can impact a person living with MS and some people suffer with chronic fatigue.   Having a supporting carer on hand to help with daily living can take the weight off your mind so you can get all the rest and recuperation you need to maintain your well-being.

As many people who are living with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis are relatively young, we know that those who need multiple sclerosis care are more prone to feeling low or may suffer from bouts of depression.  Our carers are on hand to provide holistic care, which not only responds to your physical care needs but support your emotional and psychological needs too.  They will provide gentle encouragement and support to help you build resilience, whilst embracing and coping with the challenges presented by the condition.  They will help you with difficult days and celebrate your progress and achievements with you, every step of the way.

Our carers are focused on building relationships and trust with those they care for engaging in their hobbies and interests, which we know is so important, particularly for those who are young and living with multiple sclerosis.

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COMPETENT AND COMPASSIONATE CARERS

When you choose Prestige Nursing & Care you can be reassured that the carer who cares for you or your loved one is expertly trained to provide the support you need, to the high standards you should expect.  All carers that join us complete our induction training programme, which goes above mandatory requirements.

We adopt a bespoke approach to training that ensures our carers have the knowledge, skills and aptitude to deliver high-quality home care that meets the needs of our clients.  If a client is living with a specialist condition, like dementia or multiple sclerosis or has problems with mobility that means they fall frequently we will make sure they are trained and supported to effectively provide the care you need.

We are very proud of our carers – each and every one of them is dedicated to providing compassionate, sensitive and dignified home care that means our clients live a fulfilled and meaningful life, with independence and choice, for all of life.

Carer with Client and Cafeteria

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AT PRESTIGE NURSING & CARE

Clinical excellence is at the heart of our culture and approach to service delivery at Prestige Nursing & Care. Our nurse-led home care service is monitored and supported by our experienced regional nursing teams. Led by our Head of Clinical Services who has over 30 years clinical experience, our team of qualified regional nurses are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Each holds a registered nursing qualification in at least one nursing specialism, including general adult nursing, learning and disability nursing, mental health nursing and children’s nursing. They enable the planning and delivery of safe and effective complex care to our clients, that is focused on ensuring the best possible care experience for our clients and their families.

Our nurses work in partnership with our care co-ordinators, carers, clients and families to identify specific care needs and plan the most appropriate care provision, whilst ensuring all our carers have the skills they need to deliver high standards of nurse-led care. They also provide families with on-going advice and continual support to ensure they feel reassured about the service we provide.

WHAT DOES OUR HOME CARE SERVICE INCLUDE FOR THOSE LIVING WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?

HOW WE PROVIDE CARE AT HOME FOR THOSE LIVING WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Our trusted and established care at home service can be provided in the following ways:

  • Hourly care or visiting care, as it is sometimes referred is for those who need care and support with tasks of daily living or clinical care at certain times during the day. Care at home can be provided from a 30 minute visit, to as many hours/visits throughout the day you require, one day or several days of the week depending on your care and support needs. For those who have complex needs, hourly care can be provided over a 24-hour period.
  • Live-in care for when a permanent care arrangement is needed with greater levels of support around the clock to ensure a person can live well at home. Through our family of leading home care brands in the UK, we are able to offer award-winning live-in care rated ‘Outstanding’ by The Care Quality Commission (CQC) from The Good Care Group.
  • Respite care for those needing a short-term arrangement after hospital discharge to rehabilitate or when a family carer needs a break from their caring role. It is also an ideal service for families who wish to assess whether care at home is the right care choice for them.

CARE MANAGEMENT LOCAL TO YOU

Our responsive and reliable multiple sclerosis care service local to you means we can put care and support in place quickly and in many cases within 24-hours.   Our local care expert will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your needs at home, in hospital or in any specialist care setting if you are awaiting discharge back to your own home. If you have complex needs and need nurse-led care, our expert registered nurse will complete the assessment enabling a plan of care and support to be developed that meets all your needs.

Our approach to care planning ensures we capture all your preferences and wishes so you can live a contented life in the comfort of your own home.  We take time to find the carer that would best meet your care and support needs, making sure they are closely aligned with how you wish to live your life. Once care is in place, our local teams made up of care and clinical experts provide you, your family and our carer with an abundance of on-going support, giving you peace of mind that you or your loved one is receiving the very best multiple sclerosis care.

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QUALITY ASSURANCE THROUGH REGULATED SERVICE PROVISION

Prestige Nursing & Care is not an agency.  Unlike a home care agency, we provide a fully managed and regulated care at home service, which means our clients, their families and our professional partners can be reassured that the care and support we provide those living with multiple sclerosis is of the very highest quality.

Our service is inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England and the Scottish Care Inspectorate (SCI) in Scotland.  We are proud that 96% of our inspected services have been rated as providing a ‘Good’ service, with 4% rated ‘Outstanding’ and our services in Scotland have been awarded a five-star rating.

COST OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CARE

The cost of multiple sclerosis care is dependent on the level of care and support you require.  If you are receiving our hourly multiple sclerosis care the overall cost will be determined by the number of visits and frequency of visits to you at home. Our experts will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your needs at your home, or in hospital if you are awaiting discharge to truly understand what you need and therefore how much MS care at home will cost.

We know that our cost of professional multiple sclerosis care is very competitive when compared with other home care providers.  It is worth noting that when comparing the cost of home care with a care package in a care home, that the fee you pay for home care is actually for the care and support you receive.  In a care home your weekly fee mainly covers your accommodation, food and social activities with the care package being only a small part of what you pay.

You may be entitled to either healthcare funding, social care funding or Government funding to contribute to the cost of MS care.  If you are faced with having to finance your own home care (known as self-funding care), there are initiatives available to you, including care fees annuities or equity release schemes that could provide the funds you need for your care and support.

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RESPONSIVE LOCAL TEAMS WITH NATIONWIDE COVERAGE

We are providing care and support to those living with multiple sclerosis in over 30 locations in the heart of communities across England and Scotland. The fully managed service we provide is highly responsive and our experts local to you can put care packages in place quickly, working in collaboration with local healthcare professionals, multidisciplinary teams, therapeutic care providers and other community support services. We know this holistic approach ensures our clients get the best out of life, for all of life.

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USEFUL RESOURCES

There are several organisations and charities that support those who are living with multiple sclerosis, including The MS Society,  The MS Trust and the MS International Federation.

We are here to take your call and will provide impartial support and guidance – contact our friendly care experts today to discuss your multiple sclerosis care and support needs.


0808 239 1525