Services of ALS Society of Manitoba
Client Services Coordinator
ALS Society of Manitoba now has a Client Services Coordinator to assist individuals living with ALS and their families. The Client Services Coordinator provides information and education about the nature and management of ALS, as well as information regarding local and provincial health care services and social and community resources. The Client Services Coordinator may also provide assessment of a client’s ongoing needs and advocate with appropriate services as required such as home care, physicians, the ALS Team and other services. When possible the Client Services Coordinator will conduct home visits with new referrals and maintain ongoing contact with current clients and families to ensure changing needs are addressed. The Client Services Coordinator will also provide bereavement support and assist families through the initial stages of the grieving process. top of page
ALS Shop
Everyone has been asking about the great merchandise we have available with a logo on so we have decided to set up an ALS Shop. We have been promising this for a couple months now and it will be up and running before the End of May. Thank you for your patience.
Support Group
ALS Society of Manitoba runs a support group for persons living with ALS and their family/friends/caregivers. The support group meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month (except December) at 2:00 p.m. at Deer Lodge Centre, North Pavilion Meetings may include a guest speaker or focus on specific topics, as well as informal discussion and refreshments. For more information or to RSVP please call Diana at 831-1510 top of page
Equipment
Questions regarding equipment to assist with daily living are common for people living with ALS. Certain items can be very expensive and some require fitting. If you have been told that you require certain equipment and are currently seeing the ALS Team at Deer Lodge Centre, check with them to see if this equipment is available through their equipment pool, or whether Home Care or the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities is able to assist with provision. If you are unable to obtain equipment through any of these agencies, ALS Society of Manitoba may be able to help. A small inventory of equipment is available for rent, for a nominal charge through the society. Please call the Client Services Coordinator at (204)831-1510 for information. top of page
VFAF Program
The VFAF program is a new program designed to match trained caregiver support volunteers to a person living with ALS and their family members. These volunteers would provide practical assistance and advocate for the care giving family, saving them time, energy and allowing them to focus on their relationships and major issues of care. As well, these volunteers might also help to mobilize other community resources, but would not provide direct patient care. It is anticipated that the volunteer would develop relationships with various members of the care giving family and would provide support even after the death of the person living with ALS.
Volunteers working in this program are provided with close supervision from the VFAF Project Coordinator, and are required to go through a thorough screening process and the appropriate training required to do the job. This project has been funded by two separate grants from Allianz and ALS Canada.
Emergency Response Information Kit (ERIK)
ALS Society of Manitoba has emergency response information kits available for all persons living with ALS. The kit includes a health information form, and a health care directive form. Once completed, the kit can be placed on your refrigerator and provides information for emergency personnel to respond quickly to your situation. The kit is ideal for chronically ill persons, those who live alone or who have caregivers, and others who have speech difficulties or communication barriers. To obtain a kit, please contact ALS Society of Manitoba office.
Caregiver Days
ALS Society of Manitoba holds patient care days three times a year at the Brummitt-Feasby ALS House. Care days include provision of breakfast and lunch, and a variety of services which may include massage, foot care and others. Care days can also be booked as respite days. For more information on our next care day, please contact ALS Society of Manitoba office at (204)831-1510 top of page
Resource Library
In addition to "A Manual for People Living with ALS", which is available to all persons living with ALS, ALS Society of Manitoba also maintains a lending library. The Society’s library consists of books, videos and brochures about ALS, individual experiences with the disease, coping with disabilities and grief. There are also a number of booklets on strategies for breathing, eating, drinking and swallowing as well as information on communication and mobility. Click here for a complete list. To borrow materials, please contact ALS Society of Manitoba office at (204)831-1510. top of page
Book List:
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Morrie: In His Own Words by Morrie Schwartz
Closing Comments: ALS A Spiritual Journey by Brian A. Smith
Funny You Should Ask: Living with a Disability by Rawnie Dunn
On the Parting of My Beloved by M. W. Dorosh
Uncommon Will: the Life and Death of Sue Rodriguez by Lisa Hobbs Birnie and Sue Rodriguez
This Far and No More: A True Story by Andrew H. Malcolm
A Guide for a Bereaved Survivor by Robert Baughen, PHD and Marc Calija
Talking About Death: a Dialogue Between Parent and Child by Earl A. Grollman
Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life by Philip Samms
Making Sense Out of the Senseless: the McFeat Family ALS Journey by the McFeat Family
Cries of the Silent: My Journey with ALS by Evelyn Bell
Booklet List:
Disabilities and the Right Words, a publication of the B.C. Rehabilitation Foundation
Communication and Swallowing: Solutions for the ALS/MND Community
A Guide for Caregivers- a booklet by Hospice and Palliative Care
Resources for ALS Healthcare Providers, compiled by the ALS Society of Canada
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Frequently Called Numbers
ALS Society of Manitoba (204)831-1510
Client Services Coordinator-Diana Rasmussen (204)837-1291 or (204)981-1230 (cell)
ALS Team at Deer Lodge Centre (203)831-2568 or (204)831-2125
Brummitt-Feasby ALS House 204-888-7319
Home Care Program Information (Winnipeg) (204)941-2655
Handi Transit (bookings and registrations-Winnipeg) (204)986-5722
Society for Manitobans with Disabilities (SMD) (204)975-3250
Hospice and Palliative Care Manitoba (204)889-8524
Health Links (Health Information Line) (204)788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257
Klinic Crisis Line (Winnipeg) (204)786-8686
Contact Community Information Resource Line 1-866-266-4636 or www.contactmb.org
If you have information on other services or resources which you feel would be helpful to persons living with ALS and their families, please contact ALS Society of Manitoba office and leave a message for Diana. top of page