I’m the carer for my mum who has MS (on the edge between relapse/remitting and secondary progressive) and we’re beginning to consider moving up north due to the summer heat! We could sort air con in our current home, but it wouldn’t work as a long term solution for mum.
Mum’s MS is massively affected every time the temp goes above about 27 degrees so we’re looking at North North Yorkshire/Northumberland/Cumbria or Scotland somewhere (possibly around Glasgow or between Glasgow/Edinburgh as we have family in that area) where we can hopefully guarantee at least slightly cooler temperatures for more of the time. We’re in Nottinghamshire at the minute, and the constant temp around 30 for pretty much the whole of June/July was a lot to cope with for both of us. The thing is, we prefer living slightly rural, rather than city living (we currently live right at the edge of the city suburbs, literally 2 mins drive away is countryside) and I’m worrying a bit about access to health services, access in general as mum has mobility issues, and availability of things like cleaners/laundry services and that sort of thing, and wondered if anyone who lives somewhere in one of the places listed could tell me about their experiences living there as someone with MS?
Mum has a great team at a local hospital 20 mins away at the minute and I’m loath to lose that for her, but it’s looking like moving is going to be the best option, at least some point in the future, so am trying to get as much information as possible.
Hello @RowanJ . At 72 years old, I too am on the border of RRMS and SPMS. I live about 15-20 miles south west of Glasgow in a largish village ( very easy to get into the countryside and out to some of the islands, or Glasgow). Been living here for around 35 years and particularly this year I have felt really pleased that I’m no longer living in the south of England - I’m not sure I would have coped except by staying inside with a fan and spraying water over myself. My MS hospital is the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where my MS Nurse is good. I’ve been seeing the same one for 10 years or more. I rarely see my neurologist . He tends to see people only when there has been some significant change in their MS. My GP surgery is 4-5 miles away and is OK - a bit busy at times with usual problems getting an appointment on the day. I’ve been registered there for over 30 years!
Also, have a look at the website of MS Revive a few miles to the west of Glasgow - provides various services for folk with MS.
I do like living where I am. Never gets particularly cold but can rain a lot over winter . General plus points , particularly in pre MS days are that e.g within a day I could travel north and climb a hill or two and be back in the evening, or catch a train to Edinburgh for lunch with friends, or catch a train in the other direction and then a ferry to spend a day on one of the islands . Glasgow shops, theatres, cafes, restaurants etc are good.
Can’t tell you anything about cleaners etc but could probably ask around.
Hi i have ms and live in Silloth absolutely clean air, by the seafront. Ive had a moan about the MS service however I feel it is overstretched but it does not matter where you live. I have lived in silloth for 5 years and would not move away. X
Hi, it sounds like you’ve found a lovely place to call home. Living by the seafront with clean air and enjoying your surroundings can make such a difference. I completely understand your frustration with the MS service too—it sounds like the pressure on services is a problem regardless of where you live. It’s great to hear that, despite the challenges, you’re happy in Silloth and wouldn’t want to move away. X
I think we can all find something to moan about ms is cruel, ask your mam what she wants. Visit silloth it is a small community. Lots going on if you want to join in, for me a scoot ( on my disability scooter)the prom puts things into perspective.
I live between Edinburgh and Glasgow in Lanarkshire.
Heat affects my MS with increased fatigue. I find summer here to be no different than anywhere else I have visited. Eg: my wife still works and enjoys a beach/poolside holiday. I like her to have her breaks (she’s an amazing wife and I love her so much, supportive, realistic and fun) so I comprise by going along but usually sit in the room with the air-conditioning on. When I’m at home in summer I find the humidity of the heat in Scotland to be too much and spend most of summer indoors.
The NHS MS service in Lanarkshire is excellent. There is a dedicated nurse team who are you once per year. They are also first port of call for anything MS and will liaise to the neurologist, Dr. MacDougall (how Scottish LOL) who is also a very attentive and approachable doctor.
As someone also mentioned Revive MS in Glasgow (Ibrox a one minute drive from Glasgow Ranger’s stadium) are exceptional. Free, always. They offer counselling, benefits advice, a nurse, physiotherapy, they even have an oxygen enrichment hyperbaric chamber .
All in, great place to live if you have MS.
Oh, and our social services are better in my opinion also.
