Motor neurone disease

Learning to live with motor neurone disease, and adapting to changes in the condition over time, can be challenging. Getting the right support in place to see you through those changes can make all the difference.

Over 5,000 people in the UK are living with motor neurone disease (MND). We work with a number of clients with MND, and through our experience understand the physical and emotional challenges that come with living with this condition.

Motor neurone disease is a rare, progressive disease that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. It's not clear what causes the disease, although in about 5% of cases there is a family history of the disease, or a related condition.

As MND affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, this leads to muscle weakness and wastage. As the condition progresses it affects movement, communication, swallowing and breathing.

Cause
Motor neurone disease is a rare, progressive disease that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. It's not clear what causes the disease, although in about 5% of cases there is a family history of the disease, or a related condition.
Symptoms
As MND affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, this leads to muscle weakness and wastage. As the condition progresses it affects movement, communication, swallowing and breathing.

How can we help?

Whilst the individual symptoms of MND may vary widely from person to person, the right support can make a significant difference to the quality of life of those affected.

As the condition progresses, seemingly simple day-to-day activities may become more difficult, or impossible. We work closely with our clients experiencing MND, and their families, to help them adapt and adjust to their condition, whilst remaining in the comfort of their own home. That goes beyond just looking after physical health needs; we also focus on providing support for our clients’ overall wellbeing, whether that’s enabling access to hobbies and interests, facilitating lifestyle choices, or supporting family interaction.

We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality of motor neurone disease care as standard. Our teams of personal care assistants, matched to each of our clients, undergo comprehensive general and client-specific training to ensure they uphold the highest standards of care. What’s more, they build close working relationships with our clients, and as a result are often ideally placed to identify early signs and symptoms of progression and initiate an appropriate response.

We take an innovative approach to working with our clients, and identifying ways to maximise their independence. That might mean implementing changes to routine or systems in the home, or enabling our clients to do more in the wider community.

We work with our clients, their families, and all healthcare professionals involved in their care – GPs, hospitals, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists – to ensure the care we provide is appropriate and considerate of all needs.

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