THE INDIANA CHAPTER OF THE ALS

Education & support programs: strategically based in and near patient's home communities, care service coordinators work directly with people with als and their families to help them navigate management of als as well as access community resources. In fiscal year end january 31, 2022 care service coordinators served over 500 patients providing 3,000 hours of social work. Coordinators are often the crucial support people need with guidance on finance, employment issues, insurance questions, social security disability, medicare, medicaid and long term care planning. Coordinators transitioned to virtual monthly support groups across the region with 250 attendees. Care services staff also provided professional education for community partners such as hospice, home health and home care agencies to increase their knowledge of als. The chapter has a very extensive lending program. We recognize the importance of proper equipment and assistive devices in maintaining safety, independence and in maximizing patient's functionality and minimizing financial cost associated with als. The equipment loan closet program provides access to the needed medical equipment either as a bridge while awaiting insurance approval or to those patients with no insurance coverage for the equipment being requested. The success of this program is due to the generosity of our supporters and vendors who donate equipment and to the funds raised through our walk to defeat als programs which allow us to purchase new items, repair/replace existing items, and ensures proper maintenance to the various dme items in the loan closet. During the year ended january 31, 2022, the chapter loaned 170 pieces of equipment to 120 patients. Patient financial grant programs supported patients for bathroom items, and medical copays. The chapter also funded medical copayments for power wheelchairs.