Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain and body. Patients with a progressed stage of multiple sclerosis can benefit from hospice care, and knowing the right time to make this transition is beneficial. Here’s some essential information on when to consider hospice for MS patients.
Final Stage of MS
The first sign that it may be time to consider hospice care for an MS patient is when they reach the final stages of MS. Medical professionals classify multiple sclerosis into four separate categories or stages. These stages are clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and primary progressive MS (PPMS). During the final stage of multiple sclerosis, PPMS, patients may experience severe symptoms, several simultaneous symptoms, or symptoms lasting more extended periods or becoming permanent. Like many other diseases, the final stage of MS can be challenging to navigate on your own. Therefore, patients can benefit from a transition into hospice care.
Worsening Symptoms
Worsening symptoms indicate that an MS patient may be ready to transition to hospice. Multiple sclerosis has a long list of symptoms that make daily life more difficult for patients with the disease. These symptoms include limited mobility, paralysis, speech problems, cognitive difficulties, fatigue, difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms, nerve pain, vision impairment, respiratory infections, difficulty breathing, and issues with the bladder and bowels. If you notice that your loved one’s MS symptoms are increasing in severity, it may be a good time to consider hospice care.
Requiring Assistance
If your loved one starts requiring more assistance, this is another significant sign that hospice care is a good idea. Managing your loved one’s symptoms on your own is an enormous task to take on and can be difficult for many individuals. Hospice care professionals have the skills, knowledge, and resources to properly take care of MS patients and aid them with daily tasks and activities. Multiple sclerosis can significantly impact a person’s mobility, making it challenging to move around, bathe and groom, feed themselves, and complete a daily routine independently. Therefore, hospice is an effective solution that will improve your loved one’s quality of life and provide them with the necessary care, support, and assistance.
Be on the lookout for the signs that it’s time to consider hospice for an MS patient. Soulistic Hospice offers end-of-life treatment plans near Tucson, AZ, which can significantly benefit patients in the final stages of MS struggling to manage their symptoms.
