Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects the brain and spinal chord by damaging the myelin sheath—material that surrounds and protects nerve cells—thereby blocking messages between the brain and the body and causing a range of symptoms. It’s one of the most difficult diseases to treat and diagnose, and a leading reason a person may decide to move to a long-term care facility.
An estimated 400,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis, according to information published by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2004. Although only 5-10 percent of this population requires chronic nursing home care, they comprise a significant and growing number of persons seeking such care.
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