MS aids and adaptations in the home

Multiple sclerosis (MS) often brings with it plenty of changes, many of which will alter the way you live your day-to-day life. The way in which you’ll get about as well as how suited your home is to your mobility are often not considered in as much detail.

In this blog we’ll cover the kinds of adaptations you may need to make as an MSer, so let’s begin with how you get about.

Mobility aids

For plenty of people who end up using a mobility aid, it’s usually a case of having to use one rather than wanting to. It can be hard to admit that you’re not quite as mobile as you used to be, but embracing an aid will ultimately improve your quality of life.

Your mind might jump straight to using a wheelchair when thinking about aids, but this isn’t always the case for many Msers. There are plenty of solutions out there that can support your walking if you just need a bit of support on your feet.

Canes

A walking cane is one of the cheapest solutions in mobility aids. They’re good for helping maintain your balance, but they’re only recommended if you can put less than 50% of your weight through it and walk reliably.

Walker / rollator

This kind of aid is the next step up from a cane. A walker uses four legs instead of just one to help maintain your balance when walking – a rollator might have three legs but has wheels to make getting around a bit easier.

They often have a seat part where you can rest your legs when needed, so you won’t have to panic about finding a seat somewhere.

Wheelchairs / Mobility scooters

If walking has become too much, then you might consider this kind of mobility aid.

The difference between the two of course is that wheelchairs aren’t motorised whilst mobility scooters are. The two solutions often have a big difference in price, but it is important to consider if you yourself or another person can reliably manoeuvre a wheelchair – if not then you would need to invest in a scooter.

It’s important that you speak to a reputable provider before making any purchases. It might be best to visit an in-person location and speak to someone who can help you decide on what mobility solution would be best for you.

Home adaptations

It might not be enough to only use a mobility aid to make your life easier. If the way you get around your home or do ordinary things is affected, then adaptations to your home are a necessity.

There are plenty of options for a variety of symptoms, but some popular ones include

• Stair lift
• Wet room / walk in shower
• Bath lift
• Hoist
• Widening doors
• Outdoor ramps

Small adaptations can sometimes be covered by your local council, so it’s worth checking with them to see if you can get some help in making your home more accessible. Things such as motion sensor lights on your front door and steps up to doors come under this which can take some of the strain away from you.

If you require adaptations that are a bit more expensive then there are grants that you can apply for, but there is of course no guarantee that you’ll get the funding.

Things you need to know

Before you leave this blog and get started looking into mobility aids and home adaptations, there are some things that we think you should know.

Firstly, you are entitled to get an assessment from an occupational therapist. Their job is to help make your everyday life at home easier by suggesting what aids and adaptations would work best.

As mentioned previously, you can get help from the government when it comes to the costs of adapting your home. There are plenty of schemes that you can look into, but again there is of course no guarantee you’ll get the financial support.

Lastly, and something that gets overlooked often, you should get both your aids and adaptations covered on relevant insurances. Getting a wheelchair covered for example puts your mind at ease if it were to be stolen or criminally damaged and it will likely cost less than what you think. You must also remember to inform your home insurance provider about any adjustments you make too – failure to do this could void your insurance.

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