A Life Lived Fully With MS and Live-in Care

"I became Steve and Louise's dedicated Customer Service representative in Access Care when a previous colleague left several years ago now. Steve had been a client of ours since 2013 and so I got to know them quite late in their care journey with us. I had the pleasure of meeting them twice and kept in regular contact with Louise. She is such a warm person with a wicked sense of humour and despite the difficulties that Steve experienced with his MS, and some health challenges of her own, she deeply loved and remained 100% dedicated to Steve and ensuring he received the best possible care to enable him to remain living in the comfort of his own home and so they were able to remain living together as a couple. Because they were such a loving and lovely couple it was easy to find carers who were experienced and skilled in supporting Steve with his MS and who were happy to keep returning on a regular basis.

Steve received a high level of care from two of our wonderful male carers, David and Ignas, over the last 5 years of his life, who supported him with all of his personal care, helped him with eating and drinking, helped with his moving and handling and hoisting and latterly with palliative care. Not only this, they supported Louise and Steve to get out and about when he was well enough - Steve had a love of fishing and they loved to visit the coast. MS certainly causes many challenges, but the right dedication, care and support makes the world of difference."

Steve was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1988. When I once asked if he would be willing to help me write a case study about his experience, he didn’t hesitate. “If it can help anybody else who’s suffering with MS, and the home carers who are caring for someone with MS, I’d be more than happy to help,” he said. That was Steve—always thinking of others.

Steve and Louise

Before his diagnosis, Steve ran a successful printing business in Chandler’s Ford, producing magazines and books. It all started when he noticed a decline in his vision and a tingling sensation in his face. Concerned, he visited his GP and was referred to a neurologist. After a series of tests, including an MRI, multiple lesions were discovered on his brain, and he was diagnosed with MS. It was a moment that left him overwhelmed. He didn’t yet understand how profoundly the condition would shape his life.

Before MS

In 1995, Steve met Louise. Neither of them knew at the time just how life-changing their meeting would be. When they first got to know each other, Steve was using crutches to walk and relied on a wheelchair or scooter for longer distances. At that time, the only support he received was a delivered evening meal.

They met through a minibus service that took people to social activities like pub lunches and swimming. Louise often joked that they spent more time chatting in the bar than swimming. As their friendship blossomed, so did their confidence, thanks to the emotional support they gave one another.

Louise had memory difficulties and once told Steve, “I feel really strange… I think I’ve fallen in love with you.” Steve replied, “I have too.” After Christmas in 1997, they moved in together. They went on to share 17 loving years of marriage, full of warmth, humour, and unwavering companionship.

A Passion for Life

In his younger years, Steve had been Southampton’s champion sea fisherman, winning numerous awards. Fishing was more than a hobby—it was a passion. Even after his MS diagnosis, Steve remained determined to keep doing what he loved.

Steve out fishing

He continued fishing with Louise, supported by his Live-in Carer, through Wetwheels Solent. These specially adapted boats gave him the freedom to enjoy the sea again. Steve was incredibly proud of the fish he caught and the adventures he had, thanks to the team and the accessibility they provided.

The Power of Live-in Care

Steve and Louise often spoke about how transformative Live-in Care had been. With the support of Access Care, their life was not only manageable—it was joyful, rich, and fulfilling. Louise once told me, “Without our live-in carer, Steve would have been housebound, and our life would have crumbled.”

As the MS progressed and began to affect Steve’s speech, the role of his carer became even more vital. His carers got to know him so well that they could confidently understand and express his needs, giving him a voice when his own was quietened

Their Live-in Carer supported them in every part of daily life—preparing meals, offering emotional support, enabling Steve to get out and about, and helping with all the little things that meant so much. Steve no longer got frustrated over small obstacles—he simply asked his carer for help. Louise shared how the home carers not only met Steve’s needs but uplifted his spirit and ensured he never felt alone.

Together, they built a relationship with their carers that was based on trust and respect. The carers knew Steve’s preferences, routines, and what mattered most to him. They always treated him with dignity, offered choices, and helped him live life on his terms.

Steve and his Live-in Carer

A Life with Dignity and Choice

Eventually, Steve became registered blind and used a wheelchair full-time. He relied entirely on his Live-in Carer, yet he continued to make choices about how he lived. He developed real friendships with his carers and created many beautiful memories with them. Louise and Steve often said that their carers had made a “100% difference” to their lives—being there for the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

Remembering Steve

Steve and Louise were always so grateful for the care they received from Access Care. Louise once told me how happy they were together, and how the MS care at home enabled them to live not just as a married couple, but as best friends, sharing laughs, love, and everyday joys. She described Steve as “fabulous and a fantastic husband.”

It was a privilege to know Steve—to witness his resilience, warmth, and unwavering love for Louise and life itself. He showed what it meant to live fully, even in the face of illness.

If you or a loved one is living with Multiple Sclerosis and would like to learn more about how Live-in Care can provide support, comfort, and independence at home, please click here to find out more or call our team on 0330 401 0023

With heartfelt thanks to Steve and Louise for sharing their journey.

Warmest wishes

Jo

Head of Customer Service