In order to understand ALS and how to properly care for a loved one living with the condition, one needs to understand the condition and the impacts that it has. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a neuromuscular disease which affects nerve cells within the body, in turn weakening the muscles as your loved one can no longer receive signals from the brain controlling the nerves. This condition is better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. While an ALS diagnosis can seem overwhelming at first, the condition is manageable with the proper knowledge and correct care.
Boca Raton Home Care professionals provide answers for three of the most common questions ALS caregivers ask.
1. What should I do when my loved one is diagnosed with ALS?
Once your loved one has received a diagnosis, the hardest part is over. No one is left hanging and everyone can have an understanding of what is happening with the affected individual’s body. Now is the time to be understanding and supportive. Remember that your loved one is the same person he or she was before the diagnosis and that does not change. Aside from the necessary changes to care for the individual, nothing changes. However, different people are affected in different ways, now is the time to show support for your loved one and let him or her tell you what he or she needs. Do not overcompensate as this can often make the person feel worse about his or her recent diagnosis.
2. Am I Alone?
The simple answer is no. About 6000 people are diagnosed with ALS each year in the United States. With a simple Google search, several support groups for caregivers of loved ones with ALS will come up. Your loved one with ALS is in this too. He or she can be part of a support system as well as this condition affects everyone in the family. A common myth is that you have to hide your feelings from the person with the condition. This really depends on the individual and how he or she is emotionally affected. Don’t be afraid to ask your loved one to help you through this too. No one is in this journey alone as several others are in the same position you are in right now, no matter what step of the journey you are on.
3. What will progression be like and is there anything I can do?
Similar to any other disease, different people are affected differently. For example, if one person gets a cold, he or she may feel completely fine to be out and about doing things. However, someone else can contract the same virus and it may knock him or her out for a few days where he or she needs to stay in and rest. The progression of ALS depends on the specific case and your loved one’s body. The condition may show an increase in weakness and then stop and be steady for several years and then progress again. Each case is different and despite what they say, the doctors do not know everything.
If you need assistance to provide better care to your loved one, consider hiring professional home care. Boca Raton families should determine the type of care their loved ones need to maintain a high quality of life without leaving the comfort of home.
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