Author Topic: (Abst.) Clutter management for individuals with MS  (Read 93 times)

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Offline agate

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(Abst.) Clutter management for individuals with MS
« on: October 24, 2014, 04:01:33 pm »
I'm always trying to cut down on clutter. A person wants to have everything handy and within easy reach (and so I have a pegboard in the kitchen). On the other hand, if too many things are out within easy reach, you have to move several things just to get at the thing you're looking for.

This gets tiring. Taking care of stuff can be very tiring and time-consuming

It's good to know--thanks to this abstract--that clutter management is important.

I like the part about "a general sense of cognitive clarity."

From PubMed, October 23, 2014:

Quote
Int J MS Care. 2014 Fall;16(3):117-22.

Clutter management for individuals with multiple sclerosis

Kalina JT.

Author information

New York University Langone Medical Center, MS Care Center, New York, NY, USA.

BACKGROUND:

Although there is substantial anecdotal evidence that clutter is common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), the literature contains no reports of studies on the actual prevalence of the problem or its impact on functional performance in this population.

Clutter promotes confusion and places individuals in potentially dangerous situations by increasing their risks of falling, losing medications, and misplacing important documents. In addition, it may negatively affect activities of daily living (ADLs).

Many common MS symptoms such as decreased mobility, visual or cognitive changes, fatigue, and depression can exacerbate clutter accumulation, which in turn can have detrimental effects on physical, financial, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning.

It is critical for MS clinicians to address clutter management in order to improve patients' overall functional independence and participation.

METHODS:

A clutter reduction protocol was developed and implemented at our institution for individuals with MS. Our group program addresses psychosocial issues preventing organization and offers practical strategies for clutter removal and management to improve performance in ADLs. A clutter questionnaire is administered to individuals before and after their participation in the group program.

RESULTS:

Anecdotal reports indicate that the intervention helped to reduce clutter, promote a more realistic attitude toward "possessions," and establish a sense of accomplishment in controlling one's environment. Participants also reported fewer falls, feeling less isolated, increased ease in finding their medications, and a general sense of cognitive clarity in accomplishing ADLs. Outcome assessments are now being developed to objectively measure these effects as well as the prevalence of clutter within the MS population.

CONCLUSIONS:

Clutter management is an important area for MS clinicians to address because it can significantly affect patients' functioning, safety, performance of ADLs, and quality of life.

PMID: 25337053
MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.