Joe is a man in his 60s who has been living with MS for a number of years. Due to a change in his MS which resulted in increased cognitive problems and mobility issues, he found himself unable to arrange for transportation, make doctors’ appointments, keep his apartment clean, or prepare his own meals. Because Joe lives alone, his sister who lives out of the area became so concerned about him that she contacted the National MS Society, wondering what could possibly be done for him.
An experienced staff person at the National MS Society contacted Joe and realized that he was having difficulty managing on his own. Joe was willing to accept the offer of help, and a licensed professional social worker was contracted by the Chapter to begin to tackle his increasing needs. They worked closely with Joe to help with:
- After a home visit and assessment, it became clear to the social worker that Joe was unable to continue safely living on his own. In the process of assessing his financial situation as well as his care needs, the social worker was able to locate an assisted living facility in his area that would be affordable.
- Joe wanted to make the move, and this important step eased much of the burden that he was experiencing, as he would be moving to a safe environment where his meals were prepared 3 times a day, his room was cleaned by the staff, and on-site staff could arrange for transportation and doctors appointments.
- The social worker continued to follow Joe’s case until he was securely set up in his new surroundings.