People living with muscular dystrophy face the challenge of overcoming the symptoms of this condition as it progresses. With symptoms increasing in severity over time, getting the right support in place is essential should individuals wish to stay in the comfort of their own treasured homes.
Receiving specialised muscular dystrophy live-in care enables individuals living with this condition to remain as independent as possible, surrounded by home comforts and close to family and friends. Plus, muscular dystrophy carers are able to liaise with other healthcare professionals to provide coordinated nurse-led support.
Discover more about muscular dystrophy care and how complex care from Trinity Homecare can support you or your loved one to continue living independently at home.
What is muscular dystrophy?
Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a group of genetic conditions that cause the muscles to weaken over time. Muscular dystrophy is caused by gene mutations leading to changes in the muscle fibres that impact the muscles’ ability to function. This progressive condition, meaning it gradually gets worse, often begins by affecting a particular muscle group before spreading to other muscles across the body.
Some types of muscular dystrophy can become life-threatening, as they affect the heart or respiratory muscles. Currently, there is no cure for muscular dystrophy, however, treatment is available to help manage the symptoms.
The most common symptoms of muscular dystrophy are:
- Frequent falls
- Difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position
- Inability to run and jump
- Waddling gait
- Walking on the toes
- Enlarged calf muscles
- Muscle pain and stiffness
- Learning disabilities
- Delayed growth
There are different types of muscular dystrophy, often defined by specific symptoms and parts of the body where signs first show. Muscular dystrophy typically presents itself in childhood and teenage years but can also appear in adults as late as age 50.
Here are some of the more common types of muscular dystrophy:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy – Usually affecting boys in early childhood; individuals with this form of muscular dystrophy typically only live into their 20s or 30s.
- Myotonic dystrophy – This form of muscular dystrophy can develop at any age, and life expectancy isn’t always affected unless they have a severe form of myotonic dystrophy.
- Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy – Developing in childhood or adulthood, progression is slow and isn’t usually life-threatening.
- Becker muscular dystrophy – Similar to Duchenne MD, however, it develops later in childhood, is less severe and life expectancy isn’t usually affected as much.
- Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy – Developing in late childhood or even early adulthood, some variants of this condition progress quickly and are life-threatening, whereas others are not.
- Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy – This type of muscular dystrophy usually develops between the ages of 50 and 60 and doesn’t typically affect life expectancy.
- Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy – Developing in childhood or early adulthood, it is expected that most people with this condition will live until at least middle age.
What does muscular dystrophy care involve?
As muscular dystrophy often has a major impact on mobility, complex care at home focuses on supporting individuals with moving around and keeping them as independent as possible in their own homes.
Muscular dystrophy care typically involves:
- Mobility support
- Help getting in and out of bed and chairs
- Keeping the home clutter-free
- Removing trip, slip and fall hazards
- Light housekeeping
- Transportation to and from appointments and social engagements
- Meal preparation
- Liaising with other healthcare professionals regarding the individual’s needs
- Facilitating hobbies and interests
- Emotional support and companionship
The benefits of muscular dystrophy care
For those living with muscular dystrophy and other muscle wasting and neurological care conditions, the need for professional help becomes increasingly vital as the condition progresses. Continuing to live in the comfortable surroundings of home whilst receiving care is a preferable option for many people with this condition as the disruption of moving into a care home environment is avoided.
While family caregivers can offer their support, they often face their own challenges, especially given the hereditary nature of the disease. Muscular dystrophy care at home can provide the compassionate and specialised assistance needed to ease the burden on both the individual and their loved ones.
The benefits of muscular dystrophy care at home include:
- Compassionate round-the-clock care
- Peace of mind for family and friends
- Flexible care that evolves as health requirements change
- Personalised care tailored to individual needs
- Experienced muscular dystrophy carers knowledgeable in symptom management
- Remaining in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of home
- No need to move from the home you love
How Trinity Homecare can help
A Trinity Homecare carer can support an individual living with muscular dystrophy, helping them manage their symptoms effectively. By opting for complex live-in services you can ensure that your loved one’s care will be personalised in line with their specific healthcare requirements. From mobility assistance to supporting personal care, live-in carers can allow individuals to remain independent in their own homes whilst receiving compassionate complex care.
Get in touch today
Complex live-in care can provide much-needed support for individuals living with muscular dystrophy, ensuring that their symptoms are managed and they can live as comfortably and independently as possible in their own homes. Trinity Homecare can match your loved one with a complex live-in carer experienced in muscular dystrophy care who can assist them with activities of everyday life.
If you would like to learn more about arranging complex live-in care, simply get in touch with our friendly and professional care team.
Arranging complex live-in care with Trinity is easy. Just follow these five simple steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well-suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time
