Home care by and for relatives of MS patients.

Relatives and family members are the core of the care provided in the home. This also applies to relatives of multiple sclerosis (MS), patients who are dependent on assistance by others. If we want to keep the system of home care going, nurses must keep these care-providing relatives on their feet. We can only do this if we give timely support to these relatives in carrying out their care task and the problems that may arise from it. Once the relatives are overburdened, help is too late. Thus, prevention is an important task for home care nurses. It is crucial that the support the nurses offer fits the specific chemistry of MS patients and their relatives; their efforts will therefore be substantial.