Private duty home care plays an important role in keeping people with ALS safe in the comfort of home. Since ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)—or Lou Gehrig’s Disease—is a progressive disease, those with it often need additional care and support as their needs change over time. Being able to stay at home, surrounded by loved ones, helps bring comfort to those with this devastating disease and their families.
How can private duty home care help?
The most common home health care services for people with ALS are nursing and assistive care (personal care); however, other services such as therapy and hospice are available as well.
Nursing care services are provided by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who specialize in home health care. They are highly experienced and knowledgeable professionals who can help you with all your care needs, ranging from management of ALS symptoms to tracheostomy and ventilator care.
Home health care nurses usually provide:
Assistive (personal) care is non-medical assistance with activities of daily living when the disease has made it difficult to manage everyday tasks on your own. This type of care can be provided by specially trained home health aides, certified nursing assistants, homemakers, and companions. Many people with ALS benefit from assistive care throughout their diagnosis as their disease progresses.
Care services typically include help with:
Therapeutic care includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and respiratory therapy, all of which can help you manage your condition safely at home, increasing independence and comfort.
Physical therapists can provide:
Occupational therapists can provide:
Speech language pathologists can provide:
Hospice can provide a loving, respectful, and peaceful end to an otherwise difficult experience with ALS. Services include medical care and symptom and pain management as well as emotional and spiritual support to both you and your loved ones. A hospice care team usually includes nurses, physicians, therapists, social workers, and home health aides who specialize in comfort and end-of-life care.
Hospice services include:
Hospice also provides medication and medical equipment and supplies related to the primary hospice diagnosis and related conditions.
Need help managing symptoms of ALS? Contact us for specialized, compassionate care.