For Caregivers
Caregivers encounter many challenges in supporting their loved one with ALS, including physical, emotional and financial stress. ALSA-CT is here to provide support to caregivers as well as people living with ALS. Resources range from support groups to references and education.
Contact our Care Services Team for more information.
ALSA-CT offers two monthly support groups for Caregivers only, as well as other support groups throughout the month. Support Groups meet virtually and are facilitated by one of our Care Services Managers. These confidential meetings allow Caregivers to receive support and resources from each other as well as ALSA-CT. Check out our Support Group page for more information.
People living with ALS require specialized caregiving support to address the complex, everchanging nature of the disease. Because ALS is a progressive illness, responsibilities of the caregiver will change over time.
The ALS Caregiver Education Course addresses:
- The physical and emotional impacts of ALS
- Interventions that may benefit a person living with ALS as well as those that may be harmful
- The importance of safety and wellness for the person living with ALS and their caregivers
- Strategies for care and resources to guide care decisions
Learners can register for this free course and participate as time allows, working at their own pace to achieve greater understanding and therefore greater confidence in caring for someone living with ALS.
For some people living with ALS, children or grandchildren may be living in the home or frequently visiting. Our Care Services Team has many specific resources to assist with these unique situations.
ALSA-CT partners with Hope Loves Company, a non-profit that provides emotional and educational support to children and young adults who have or had a loved one battling ALS. HLC has virtual support groups for children and offers a number of in-person and online camps, including summer camps in MA and NJ.
For educational books designed for children, teens and young adults click here
For specific questions and concerns, please contact your Care Services Manager.
The State of Connecticut's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) offers Connecticut workers the opportunity to take time to attend to personal and family health needs without worrying about lost income. The CT Paid Leave Authority provides Connecticut’s workforce access to paid family and medical leave benefits by offering helpful tools and resources to help administer this new program.
Click HERE for more information.
ALS Care Connection is a private online calendar that can be used to support the entire family – by organizing volunteers to take care of some of the tasks that families describe as "falling through the cracks." Caregivers may feel defeated by the growing list of tasks they’re no longer able to manage. And it’s often hard to know when and how to ask friends and neighbors for help. For those who want to offer a helping hand, it’s difficult to know just what’s needed and how to make a difference.
For more information, click HERE.
Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.
The national observance is spearheaded by Caregiver Action Network (CAN), a nonprofit that provides free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers. This is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country.
ALSA-CT supports and encourages our Caregivers throughout the year, but holds events or workshops during the month of November to highlight their efforts.
Drazen Rubin Law, LLC in Milford, CT, holds an annual Caregivers Symposium every November
In addition to the resources provided by ALSA-CT, many other organizations provide support for Caregivers.
The Goldstone Caregiver Center at Danbury Hospital provides resources to all caregivers.
The National ALS Association's Resources for Caregivers