Even though it was identified in 1869 by a French neurologist, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is more commonly associated with a famous baseball player.

ALS is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease after the Major League Baseball star who retired from his nearly two-decade career with the New York Yankees due to a diagnosis.

What Is ALS?

Palliative care is important to help those with ALS.

The ALS Association describes the disease as follows: “Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. They govern voluntary movements and muscle control.

“ALS causes these motor neurons to degenerate over time until they eventually die. When the motor neurons die, the brain can no longer initiate and control muscle movement. When voluntary muscle action is progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move, and breathe.”

While the majority of people develop ALS between the ages of 40 and 70, some cases are reported from people in their 20s or 30s. Around 90% of cases happen without a known family history of the disease. 

Palliative Care for ALS: Crucial Support for Patients

A paper referenced from the National Library of Medicine suggests patients be supported through an ALS specialty clinic — such as ones in Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Durham, or Greenville — as well as home-based palliative care, through an agency such as Tillery Compassionate Care.

What Are the Signs of ALS?

Later characteristics include the inability to eat, speak, walk, and breathe without assistance.

The ALS Foundation says, “the goal is that the person’s wants and wishes are respected, and what can be controlled will be controlled.”

How Does Tillery Compassionate Care Help With Palliative Care for ALS?

Palliative care is provided by a team of specialists, including palliative care providers, nurses and social workers who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. 

It is appropriate at any age and any stage for a chronic or serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.  

At Tillery Compassionate Care, our palliative care team of specialists includes a physician, nurses and social workers. Together with your own doctor, we make sure

that you receive:

• Relief from symptoms including:
  • Pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Numbness
  • Problems with sleep
  • … and much more
• In-depth communication with you and your family about your goals, your concerns and your treatment options-and how to match your goals with those options
• Coordination of your care among all your health care providers
• Improved ability to tolerate medical treatments and the side effects of the disease
• Improved ability to carry on with daily life
• Emotional, practical and spiritual support for you and your family

Palliative caregivers know what it is like to care for ALS patients, as Tillery Compassionate Care, formerly Hospice of Stanly County, has provided care for thousands of individuals over its 40-plus years, including patients with ALS.

Call 704-983-4216 or visit tillerycompassionatecare.org to learn more about how Tillery Compassionate Care can meet your needs and those of your loved one today.

Tillery Compassionate Care – a nonprofit organization providing compassionate care since 1981.