Baker, who received his diagnosis in the early 1980s, gets around by motorized wheelchair. He attends his children’s sporting events and graduations, plays cards with his buddies and takes part in many of the same activities as other 57-year-old men.  He does much of the family’s shopping online.

  Each morning he receives two hours of assistance from Home Health Aide Mike Mickle to get out of bed and ready for the day. Mickle, an employee of HomeCare & Hospice, returns at night to help him back into bed.

  “HomeCare & Hospice is the best of the three outfits in the area. Two places we called before said they couldn’t help,” Baker recalled.

 The agency is one of over 17,000 home care agencies across the country, according to the National Association for Home Care & Hospice.  Baker is one of 7.6 million people receiving home care services in the United States this year.

“We have a contract with the Veterans Administration (VA) and that’s why we were able to come in,” said nurse Kathy Mattison, who sees him regularly.

Baker began receiving services within two days of referral.

“They’ve been coming for eight or nine years. Before that my wife and kids and mother were putting me in and out of bed,” he said.

  Baker said he believes his condition was brought on by exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. However, the VA has not confirmed this.

“I came back in 1972 and it happened in 1976,” he said of the onset of his symptoms.

  His diagnosis came in the early 1980s, when confirmed by a second episode.

  Baker’s form of multiple sclerosis is progressive, meaning it became steadily more severe over time – unlike some people who experience remissions and reoccurrences.

  “They say it levels out at about age 50; if this is as bad as it gets, I can live with it,” he said.

“I’ve been in this chair for 20 years and I just keep on keeping on. I’m not going to quit anytime soon.”

  His refusal to stop living his life is the main reason one area physician puts other multiple sclerosis patients in touch with Baker when they appear to be struggling with depression.

  Talking other MS patients through hard times is not the only help he offers. Baker, who worked as a construction worker, draftsman and salesman, designs ramps so that other wheelchair users can lead active lives outside their homes.

  “I’ve been able to help a lot of guys,” he said.

  In his own home, Baker offered design guidance when his uncle refit his bathroom, He also had an elevator installed so he could continue to host card games in the basement.

“We smoke cigars sometimes and my wife said ‘You’re not playing up here,’” he explained.

  The elevator also enables him to help his wife, Cindy, a math teacher at the local high school, with the laundry. The couple has three adult children. Daughter Andrea is a junior high math teacher at the local school. Oldest son Jay works in computers in the Rochester area and the youngest, Joshua, is a college student.

  A specialized van, which he drove until recently, enables Baker to take occasional out-of-town trips with friends and to spend time at the family’s camp. Most days, however, it is with Mickel’s help that he starts the day.

  Baker said he has established a good working relationship with the aide – and Mickel has chosen to work with him seven days a week. However, if son Jay is home visiting, the aide will get a night off from bedtime duty.

  “My family was doing it all – taking care of me before those folks came in. It’s been a load off them and Mike is great. When he helps me out of bed and he balances me, I can still stand,” said Baker.

  The services he receives from Mickel, Mattison and the other HomeCare & Hospice staff allow him to keep active and depend less upon his family members.

  His wife said that receiving in-home care services from the agency has allowed the Bakers to spend their time with Bob as family members, rather than caretakers. It also allows them to go on with their own activities and careers.

  “It means we're not tied down to the house as much. We can go shopping for the day if we want.  It frees us up to go do other things. Our major activities don't revolve around taking care of him but on the same activities that every family has. My daughter and I teach, so we can spend the time we should with our students, instead of having to run home and take care of Bob,” Cindy said.

  Baker said he would encourage other people with illnesses or physical limitations not to hesitate to ask for help for themselves and their families.

  “Just call,” he said.

  For information on home care services, call 1-800-719-7129 .

  HomeCare & Hospice, a non-profit United Way member agency, provides specialized medical care and social/emotional support for patients and families coping with terminal illness in Cattaraugus, Allegany, Wyoming and Genesee counties.  The institution is an equal opportunity provider, and employer.