Perceptions of informal care givers: Health and support services provided to people with multiple sclerosis

Method. The data presented in this study were collected in a national survey of 530 informal care givers to people with MS who have greater levels of physical dependency. Results. About 70% of informal care givers responded that assisting the person with MS perform daily activities or personal care took up the largest amount of their care giving time. Care givers also reported a range of home and community-based services that would make care giving easier or improve the care provided. However, informal care givers generally reported low satisfaction with health insurance coverage of these services, especially coverage by health maintenance organizations and other managed care plans. Conclusions. Lack of health insurance coverage of needed home and community-based services can reduce the quality of informal care provided, as well as increase the burden of informal care giving.