Uneven pavements, inaccessible town centres and inadequate public transport – along with difficulty accessing financial support – are forcing thousands of people to become prematurely housebound.
This is the finding of a new report by the MS Trust which reveals that thousands of people living with multiple sclerosis are effectively ‘imprisoned’ in their own homes – with around 96,000 people with MS estimated to be unable to leave their house without help, either some of the time, or every time.
A staggering 90% said that uneven pavements, limited dropped kerbs, or cars parked on the pavement made it difficult to move around outside, according to the MS Trust’s Life Changing: Getting Around with MS report.
Lucy Taylor, CEO of the MS Trust said, “The moment you have a condition like MS that can make walking difficult, you realise how inaccessible many of our towns are as a result of inadequate public transport, uneven pavements, and narrow shop doorways. We are committed to raising awareness of what living with MS day to day is like – and the world of difference it makes to people with MS when support is available.”
While disability can vary from person to person with MS, for many accessibility is the difference between being able to leave the house or not. Antoinette Bell, 55 years old, says, “Tiny changes like more dropped kerbs and accessible buses where the doors open in the centre of the bus, allowing enough space for the wheelchair, would make a world of difference to people with MS.”
The MS Trust said that the impact on the mental and physical health of those who are forced into being housebound by their condition is a major concern. More than 70% reported that transport problems impacted their mental health, with around 77% feeling isolated and more than half of respondents saying they would leave their house more often if support was available.
Charlotte Wright, 30 years old, said a lack of accessible transport and uneven pavements forced her to be housebound and question the point of living. At a time when she should be able to enjoy life, she barely goes out and says, “Too often the disabled toilets are out of order, or there are steps and the lifts don’t work. It does get you down, not being able to go out.”
Many people living with MS are missing out on financial support, with 60% of respondents unaware of the support available, and 30% who had looked at applying for support reporting that the forms were too long and complicated to fill in.
In addition to more accessible public transport, the report showed that 80% of those living with MS struggle with incontinence, highlighting the need for more accessible public toilets. As part of the Advanced MS Champions programme, the MS Trust is working with the NHS to identify and help those who are isolated or at risk of being housebound due to MS.
For more information, please visit www.mstrust.org.uk
Image depicts man entering bus on a wheelchair