MS impacts both caregivers and patients. The coping strategies for stress, anger, grief, communication, loneliness, and depression can be applied to anyone whose life is disrupted by chronic illness. When someone is sick, most of the care and attention is directed toward them. The patients is given the support of her doctor, her medical team, concerned friends and loved one, but often the caregiver can feel left alone in the shadows. If this is your experience, it will be up to you to get your needs met. A few suggestions that might make caregiving easier include the following:

1. Do things for youself as well as for others.
2. Maintain your outside interests and friendships. Attend caregiver supports groups and maintain a social life outside of caregiving activities.
3. Find people who can give you a break when you need it. Create a list of people you can count on to help you if you are feeling burned out. Post it by the phone and use it before you reach the end of your rope. Depending on how much care the patient needs, you might want to consider adult day care of hiring an aid to come in during the day. When friends offer to help, accept their help, and be specific about what tasks they might take on for you.
4. Set up your home to allow the patient to be as independent as possible and reduce their dependence on you. Work with the patient to determine chores or responsibilities they might be able to handle on their own.
5. Ask the doctor for an occupational therapy referral. These folks are skilled at doing home assessments and in suggesting way to reduce physical strain on both the patients and the caregiver. Get training on the most efficient approaches to transferring bathing, giving injections, toileting, and dressing techniques if you are providing this level of care. You can get a home health referral from the doctor, and in addition to providing training, they may also be able to relieve you from some of these responsibilities.


Taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It's a necessity if your going to go the distance as a caregiver. It's often said, "you can't take care of anyone else if you don't take care of yourself first." This is a statement to take to heart.

And remember, your patient loves you and appreciate all that you do for them. Don't forget that.