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Logo-Golden West-Transparent Background

 Contact: Jenica Lancy, Director of Communications
The ALS Association Golden West Chapter
media@alsagoldenwest.org
(415)-967-2572(ALSA)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11/01/2013

The Golden West Chapter of The ALS Association Recognizes
National Family Caregivers Month

November 1, 2013—

November is National Family Caregivers Month - a time that our nation offers its appreciation and admiration to the 65 million family caregivers in the US today, who provide an estimated $450 billion in unpaid care to their loved ones each year. As we reflect on the compassion and dedication all these individuals exhibit every day through their generous, unheralded work of delivering care to spouses, children, parents and other loved ones, The ALS Association Golden West Chapter wants to particularly acknowledge those who are caring for someone with ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. People with ALS lose the ability to walk, move, speak, swallow, and eventually to breathe- usually within two to five years of diagnosis. For unknown reasons, veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS as the general population. There is no cure yet, and only one FDA approved drug that modestly extends survival.

“Caregivers of people with ALS experience the effects of the disease in ways that the rest of us cannot imagine” said Fred Fisher, President and CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. “Not only must they help a loved one through this devastating disease, caregivers themselves experience significant personal challenges as a result of the care they provide.”

While caregiving is often provided out of love and devotion, over time it can adversely affect the caregiver’s physical and psychological health.  To help people in this role, The ALS Association Golden West Chapter offers many support groups exclusively for caregivers as well as online resources that provide caregiving tips, information on coping with the demands of caregiving, respite care resources and more.  Throughout November, The Association will also be posting helpful information for family caregivers on Facebook and Twitter.

“Caregivers are essential to managing the significant, day-to-day needs of people living with ALS,” Fisher continues.  “They deserve special recognition for the selfless, often around-the-clock support they provide in caring for their loved ones.” 

About The ALS Association Golden West Chapter

The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.  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 ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Golden West Chapter serves people with ALS and their families in 31 counties throughout California and in the state of Hawaii. For more information about The ALS Association Golden West Chapter, please visit www.alsagoldenwest.org or send an email to info@alsagoldenwest.org.

###

Logo-Golden West-Transparent Background

 Contact: Jenica Lancy, Director of Communications
The ALS Association Golden West Chapter
media@alsagoldenwest.org
(415)-967-2572(ALSA)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11/01/2013

The Golden West Chapter of The ALS Association Recognizes
National Family Caregivers Month

November 1, 2013—

November is National Family Caregivers Month - a time that our nation offers its appreciation and admiration to the 65 million family caregivers in the US today, who provide an estimated $450 billion in unpaid care to their loved ones each year. As we reflect on the compassion and dedication all these individuals exhibit every day through their generous, unheralded work of delivering care to spouses, children, parents and other loved ones, The ALS Association Golden West Chapter wants to particularly acknowledge those who are caring for someone with ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. People with ALS lose the ability to walk, move, speak, swallow, and eventually to breathe- usually within two to five years of diagnosis. For unknown reasons, veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS as the general population. There is no cure yet, and only one FDA approved drug that modestly extends survival.

“Caregivers of people with ALS experience the effects of the disease in ways that the rest of us cannot imagine” said Fred Fisher, President and CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. “Not only must they help a loved one through this devastating disease, caregivers themselves experience significant personal challenges as a result of the care they provide.”

While caregiving is often provided out of love and devotion, over time it can adversely affect the caregiver’s physical and psychological health.  To help people in this role, The ALS Association Golden West Chapter offers many support groups exclusively for caregivers as well as online resources that provide caregiving tips, information on coping with the demands of caregiving, respite care resources and more.  Throughout November, The Association will also be posting helpful information for family caregivers on Facebook and Twitter.

“Caregivers are essential to managing the significant, day-to-day needs of people living with ALS,” Fisher continues.  “They deserve special recognition for the selfless, often around-the-clock support they provide in caring for their loved ones.” 

About The ALS Association Golden West Chapter

The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.  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 ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Golden West Chapter serves people with ALS and their families in 31 counties throughout California and in the state of Hawaii. For more information about The ALS Association Golden West Chapter, please visit www.alsagoldenwest.org or send an email to info@alsagoldenwest.org.

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