Neurological disorders can affect people at any age, affecting a person’s quality of life and their ability to live life independently. We understand that each person experiences their disease differently and symptoms may not occur in the same order and the disease may progress at different speeds.
SuperCarers can help you find a care provider who has the expertise to support you with a variety of neurological disorders. A care provider will provide tailored care to one’s current abilities and symptoms based around practical, emotional and physical support. Care should be adapted as skills and symptoms change or the condition progresses, moving towards palliative care if necessary.
We’re confident that we will be able to help you find a care provider to meet the specific needs of you or your loved one and who’ll provide a holistic service by respecting the following principles:
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Encourage clients to do things themselves and advocate independence, even if it takes longer
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Ask what help and care clients want - they should be part of the decision-making process
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Adapt to daily and long-term changes in a client’s symptoms and abilities
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Liaise with other care professionals to ensure multidisciplinary care is implemented
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Ensure clients live as dignified and independent a life as possible
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Provide the necessary emotional support to a client’s loved ones
Common neurological disorders
Neurological conditions result from damage to the brain, spinal column, or nerves, through injury or illnesses and can begin at any time in your life. Disorders like cerebral palsy are present from birth, whereas others such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy appear in childhood, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease mainly affect older people. Some disorders have sudden onset due to injury or illness, including traumatic head injury, stroke, and brain and spinal cancers. Others, such as epilepsy and faecal and urinary incontinence, may arise at any stage in a person’s life.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s
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Over 850,000 people have dementia in the UK
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Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia
Huntington’s Disease (HD)
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Huntington’s Disease is a progressive, hereditary disorder of the central nervous system
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It equally affects men and women
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Between 6,500-8,000 people are currently living with HD in the UK
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It usually develops in adulthood between the ages of 30 and 50
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Early symptoms include:
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Subtle problems with mood or mental abilities
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Lack of coordination
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Unsteady gait
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Most patients eventually lose the ability to talk
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Mental abilities generally decline with dementia
Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
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MND is a progressive disease affecting motor neurons causing deterioration of the body’s muscle function
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The most common form is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
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About 5,000 people are currently living with MND in the UK
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Symptoms typically first appear in the hands, feet and mouth
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It does not usually affect the senses, bladder, or bowel
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There is currently no known cure but collaborative intervention by medical care professionals can help to maintain quality of life and alleviate symptoms
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
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MS is an autoimmune disease in which the protective lining of the nerves is attacked by the body’s immune system
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People are normally diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40
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About 100,000 people are living with MS in the UK.
Symptoms include:
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Fatigue
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Vision problems
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Difficulties with walking
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Tremors
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Speech problems
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Other symptoms include memory, thinking and emotional problems
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Parkinson’s disease (PD)
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Parkinson’s is a long-term progressive neurological disorder that affects movement
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120,000 people are living with Parkinson’s in the UK
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Symptoms tend to come on slowly over time
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The most obvious signs are:
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Shaking
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Rigidity
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Slowness of movement
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Difficulty with walking
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Dementia is common in advanced stages
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No cure exists but multidisciplinary management can provide relief from symptoms
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Care plans typically include regimes of medication and physiotherapy
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Speech or mobility rehabilitation may also help
Stroke
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A stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off
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They are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is necessary
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Strokes come in two forms
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Ischaemic - the blood supply is stopped due to a blood clot (85% of cases)
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Haemorrhagic - a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts
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Stroke survivors are often left with long-term problems caused by injury to their brain
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Patients may need a long period of rehabilitation to recover former independence
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Others many never fully recover and need support adjusting to living with the effects
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Reablement care may be required or help with daily activities, personal care, or companionship may also be needed
Questions to ask
If you think your loved one may need care, you may want to ask some of the following questions:
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What condition do you or your loved one have?
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What are your or your loved one’s symptoms?
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What are your or your loved one’s particular care needs?
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How have your or your loved one’s symptoms progressed since diagnosis?
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What treatment or care are you or your loved one currently receiving?
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Could you or your loved one benefit from further assistance?
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What type of care do you want your carer to provide?
