¶ Introduction
ALS is a complex disease that impacts both the individual's life and the lives of those around them. Its progressive nature requires regular reassessment of the individual's care needs and access to assistive devices. This is in contrast to discrete injuries, whereby there tends to be a single, immediate change to the individual's condition.
¶ Planning and Tasks
¶ Health
- Care Planning links to: Healthcare: Care Planning
- Disease Management Managing care decisions, and end-of-life planning
- Trials and Research General information about ALS research participation
¶ Finance
¶ Relationships
- Advocacy Raising awareness about ALS
- Memory Preservation Journalling, making recordings, keepsakes
- Telling Others Considerations for telling others about an ALS diagnosis
¶ Activities of Daily Living
For information about assistive equipment for activities of daily living, such as for dressing, grooming, or mobility, see the Occupational Therapy section.
¶ Symptom Management
¶ General
- Drooling
- Dry Mouth
- Edema Swelling, especially in legs
- Fasciculations Twitching
- Limb Weakness
- Neck Weakness
- Perineal Care and Toileting
- Physiotherapy
- Treatments Treatments to slow the progression of ALS
- Sleeping
¶ Breathing
- Bi-Level Ventilators Breathing support devices
- Breathing Reflexes Coughing, sneezing and yawning
- Breathing Tests Pulse oximetry, and spirometry
- Lung Volume Recruitment Increasing the volume of air in the lungs
- Managing Secretions 🚧
- Tracheostomy Neck tube inserted for breathing
- Ventilation Natural and mechanically assisted breathing
¶ Eating
Eating difficulties are almost universal in ALS. Weakness in the hands and arms makes cutting food and conveying it to the mouth difficult. Difficulties with chewing and swallowing are associated with bulbar weakness.
- Diet and Food Preparation Preparing food which is easier to eat
- Independent Eating Links to: Occupational Therapy: Eating and Drinking
- Chewing and Swallowing
- Tube Feeding