Caring for the Person With ALS

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually lead to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

MDA is the world's largest non-governmental sponsor of research seeking the causes of and effective treatments for neuromuscular diseases, sponsoring some 400 research projects annually.

to This Chapter:
The Early Stages
The Later Stages
Hygiene and Skin Care
Nutrition and Swallowing
Preventing Contractures
Respiratory Care

With ALS the patient why loosing the ability to make their musles work, their brain continues to work. this can be very trying on the person and their care givers.

Communication
Meeting Psychological and Emotional Needs