Specialized Housing Needs in Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Analysis

Many persons with MS require some form of specialized housing, including home modification and adaptations of one's existing home (such as ramps or grab bars in bathrooms), accessible housing, assisted or supported living, nursing care, and a variety of other community living options. There is very little research, however, to help understand the needs and alternatives of people with MS. There is a critical need for a comprehensive understanding of both the needs and challenges faced by persons with MS and of the resources that already exist to meet these needs. This project involves a comprehensive analysis of the * need for and availability of specialized housing for adults with MS in the U.S. from the perspectives of people with MS and professionals who work with them. We will survey over * 4,000 people with MS across the country about their current and future-needs for specialized housing, the resources available to meet these needs, and the barriers faced by persons with MS * to accessible and affordable housing. People with MS will be recruited through the membership of the National MS Society and the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) patient registry. We also will survey MS health care and advocacy professionals on the specialized housing, housing modifications, accessible housing, and assisted living needs of * people with MS, and explore alternatives to nursing home care. This information will be used to educate health care professionals, advocate for people with MS, and produce helpful information for people with MS and their families and caregivers in meeting their needs for specialized * housing.