ALS UNITED OHIO INC

PATIENT SERVICES AND SUPPORT: ALS UNITED OHIO PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) OR LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE AND TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT BY MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO ASSIST PATIENTS, SPOUSES, AND CAREGIVERS IN KNOWING HOW TO PREPARE AND DEAL WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS (PHYSICAL, PSYCHO-SOCIAL, AND FINANCIAL) OF BEING DIAGNOSED WITH THIS DEVASTATING, TERMINAL ILLNESS. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EQUIPMENT LOANS, MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUPS, STAFFING AND PARTNERING WITH ALS CLINICS (OHIOHEALTH IN COLUMBUS AND UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI), A PATIENT GRANT PROGRAM AND CHILDREN'S ALS RESOURCES. ALL OF THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED, FREE OF CHARGE. DURING THIS PERIOD, OVER 621 PEOPLE LIVING WITH ALS WERE SERVED; 954 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED TEN MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS; THERE WERE 725 BEREAVEMENT CONTACTS MADE; 113 CHILD AND TEEN BACKPACKS PROVIDED; 436 PATIENT VISITS TO 2 MULTIDISCIPLINARY ALS CLINICS, AND 1,113 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT LOANED AND PURCHASED FOR PATIENTS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ITS PATIENT GRANT PROGRAM. TOTAL GRANTS PROVIDED EQUALED 216,334 AND GAVE MUCH NEEDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 265 PEOPLE LIVING WITH ALS. GRANTS ARE AWARDED BASED UPON ELIGIBILITY APPLICATIONS THAT ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF.

PUBLIC AWARENESS: ALS UNITED OHIO PROVIDES IN-SERVICE TRAINING TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS SO THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED TO CARE FOR ALS PATIENTS. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS SPEAK TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOL GROUPS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT ALS AND THE NEED FOR LOCAL SERVICES, SUPPORT AND ABOUT THE NEED FOR RESEARCH TO FIND EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS AND A CURE FOR ALS. THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF WORK WITH LOCAL RADIO STATIONS, NEWSPAPERS/PUBLICATIONS AND TELEVISION STATIONS TO ACQUIRE COVERAGE WHEN POSSIBLE TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT ALS, OUR FREE SERVICES AND TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND OUR CHAPTER-SPONSORED EVENTS. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ATHLETIC TEAMS - MAJOR LEAGUE AND MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL) TO HOST LOU GEHRIG DAY EVENTS TO HONOR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH ALS, TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISEASE AND TO DIRECT OTHERS WITH ALS TO THE FREE SERVICES THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES.