ABSTRACT
Previous chapters in this book have described how multiple sclerosis (MS) typically strikes people in early adulthood, just as they are „nding partners, starting families, entering the labor force, building careers, and planning their futures. Because MS is currently incurable, many people can anticipate living for decades with a condition that has an uncertain course and often becomes more disabling over time. Over the last 10-20 years, there has been increasing recognition that health care systems worldwide are not well designed to serve people with chronic conditions,1-5 such as MS. Instead, these systems are designed to serve people with acute illnesses who can be diagnosed, treated, cured, and then sent home to continue on as before. For people with chronic conditions and disabilities, the return home means „nding ways to perform daily tasks and pursue those activities that give meaning and pleasure to their lives. Their family members and close friends often join in these efforts.
