For ALS caregivers, it can seem like the tasks and challenges they are asked to face each and every day are endless. Their calendars are often filled with appointments for clinic visits, medication or therapy schedules, and other care needs for their loved one. Still, they must somehow also tend to the tasks of everyday life like preparing meals, keeping up the home or yard, walking the dog, or running the kids to and from activities.
Trying to manage it all can feel overwhelming at times, but it can also be difficult to know when and how to ask for help. And, for those wanting to lend a helping hand, not knowing what is needed, and when, can be equally challenging. To help everyone with the who, what, where, when, and how, there is ALS Care Connection.
ALS Care Connection is a private online calendar that can be used to support the entire family by organizing volunteers from your community – friends, neighbors, members of community organizations like your church, or other service groups – that can help with day-to-day responsibilities for families impacted by ALS.
The online calendar is easy to use, completely free, and fully private; only people invited or approved can sign in to view the page. Designed specifically to meet the needs of people living with ALS and their caregivers, the tool allows you to post requests for those necessary, non-ALS related tasks you may need help with. And quick and reliable technical support is available whenever you need it!
Family and friends you choose can be given permission via email to access the calendar, easily view the entire range of needs and requests, and proactively sign up to volunteer to help where and when they can. The calendar displays all requested and fulfilled tasks, and even sends an automatic reminder to volunteers of their task commitments.
This year alone, more than 1,800 people have helped people living with ALS and their caregivers with tasks, the most common request being helping out with coverage while a caregiver can run a few quick errands. Other common requests are help with meals, help with lawn care, or tending to pets.
Jeannie has volunteered as part of a Care Connection community and thinks it has really made a difference for everyone. “It’s invaluable. Six of us are doing this, and everybody can see who is over there and what tasks need to be done,” she said.
Now, when someone asks what they can do to help, the answer can be "just give me your email address so I can provide access to our ALS Care Connection page." And while there is no one-size-fits-all approach to caregiving, this online tool is just one more resource you can use to help make managing life as a caregiver a little bit easier.
To learn more about the ALS Care Connection program or to start a Care Connection team, click HERE.
To find more ALS caregiving information and resources to help support you or someone you know, visit our website HERE, or sign up to receive our e-newsletter, Care Matters, HERE.
To learn more about the disease and follow stories about people living with ALS in the community, subscribe to receive our weekly blogs in your inbox HERE or follow us at als.org/blog.
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