Quality of life and neurology are important topics to us. We partner with neurologists nationwide to treat patients just like you. At Paragon, we know that each of our patients faces a unique set of obstacles related to their condition, symptoms, and therapy. Even with millions of people being impacted worldwide by neurological disorders, you are not a number to us. You are part of our family. We see the challenges you face and are here to provide clinical resources to best support you where you’re at on your journey. Our goal is to help you overcome hurdles related to your health, comfort, and happiness in order to improve your overall quality of life.

What is Quality of Life?

"Quality of Life" is defined as the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group. The CDC states, “Health is more than the absence of disease; it is a resource that allows people to realize their aspirations, satisfy their needs, and to cope with the environment to live a long, productive, and fruitful life.”

Quality of life asks questions like, “Do you perceive that your life is going well?” This question must consider your joy and grief, housing, employment, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. These factors are not easy to measure since well-being is a subjective concept, but these areas are critical to painting a picture of your quality of life.

What types of challenges do neurology patients often face?

No two patients are the same, and neither is their experience with a neurological condition. We know that a child’s experience is different from that of a teen, adult, or elderly patient with a similar condition. When you come on our service to treat your condition, our team considers multiple lifestyle factors when building your customized plan. We partner with your physician and you to ensure you have a care plan tailored to your specific needs.

Many patients with a neurological disease have reported the following:

• Feeling discomfort related to symptoms of their condition. Many neurological conditions can cause pain and discomfort for the patient. Each situation is different, but patients may experience seizures, memory loss, poor cognitive abilities, partial or complete paralysis, and more, depending on the diagnosis stage. These symptoms can interfere with how a patient feels throughout the day, making it essential to find positive ways to manage symptoms.
• Feelings of isolation or frustration. It’s easy to feel alone or frustrated when dealing with an acute or chronic health condition – but our team here at Paragon is ready to support you every step of the way. You are not alone. We are here to help provide you with clinical resources, education, and more.
• Feeling discouraged through the process of finding a therapy that works. Learning what works best for a patient may take time. This can be challenging, especially when it would be ideal to have immediate results. Our team will work with each patient and their physician to navigate finding the best regimen for the individual.

There are multiple online resources, community support groups, specialty therapies, and helpful information available. Whether you have been diagnosed with ALS, multiple sclerosis, or another neurological condition, we’re here to provide the infusible and injectable therapies needed to manage your symptoms. Together with your physician, caregivers, and family, we are here to support you.

What resources are available to neuro patients?

• American Neurological Association – “From advances in stroke and dementia to movement disorders and epilepsy, the American Neurological Association has been at the forefront of research and practice since 1875 as the premier professional society of academic neurologists and neuroscientists devoted to understanding and treating diseases of the nervous system. For over 140 years, the ANA has counted the world’s leading academic neurologists among its members.”
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society – “The National MS Society brings the MS movement together—and turns our power and passion into real results. When the Society was founded 75 years ago, MS was neglected and poorly understood. What began as one woman's vision and commitment is now a nationwide organization leading the global charge to create a world free of MS.”
• Multiple Sclerosis Foundation – “The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, known in the MS community as MS Focus, is a nonprofit organization focused on providing free services that address the critical needs of people with MS and their families, helping them maintain the best quality of life.”
• The ALS Association – “Established in 1985, The ALS Association is the only national nonprofit organization fighting ALS on every front.  By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.”
• ALS Foundation for Life – “Our goal at the ALS Foundation for Life is to raise public awareness and help improve the quality of life for the men and women in our community who are who are battling this disease on a daily basis. We are committed to providing funding for medical equipment, home modifications, and technological devices, allowing patients some independence and sense of dignity. Our goal is to reach out into the ALS community to offer assistance and make an impact on the lives of patients and their families.”

As the healthcare industry shifts to focusing on neurology patients’ experience, physicians and providers alike are recognizing that happy and healthy patients are the sum total of a positive physical, mental, and emotional state. Quality of life is a term used to encompass more than just a patient’s physical symptoms from their health condition. Our goal is to empower you to take charge of your health by learning practical ways to manage your condition.

For more information about Paragon Healthcare, visit https://paragonhealthcare.com/.