From Montgomery Media:
State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-153, recently announced $325,000 in funding for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association of Greater Philadelphia.
The funding will help provide much needed in-home care, medical equipment and clinical services to people living with ALS across the state.
“My constituent Wes Rose, who is battling ALS, first talked to me five years ago about the need to support ALS patients and their families,” said Shapiro. “Together we fought to secure this critical funding and I’m proud that we are able to help so many in our region who are living with ALS.”
“This funding represents a significant achievement in the fight against ALS. The money will directly assist those living with ALS in the areas served by the Greater Philadelphia chapter,” said Wes Rose of Glenside. “Representative Shapiro has been a true friend and determined ally, and has always been willing to go the extra mile for the ALS Association. I deeply appreciate his hard work and persistence; it certainly has paid off. I look forward to continuing the fight against this horrible disease, with Representative Shapiro by our side.”
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is an incurable neuromuscular disease which robs patients of their ability to walk, speak and in the later stages, the ability to swallow and breathe. However, the minds of ALS patients remain sharp. With communication affected, calling out for help in an emergency or speaking about medical problems with the patient’s physicians can become impossible.
The funding secured by Shapiro through the state department of health will help the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association provide 11,250 hours of in-home and respite care, and will enhance and expand the reach of services to rural and underserved regions in the service area. This funding will also be used to purchase assistive technology and communication equipment, which aids communication with caregivers and provides a means for patients to call for help in an event of an emergency. The technology is rarely covered by the patient’s health insurance. The ALS Association therefore purchases and lends these assistive technology devices to patients for as long as they are needed.
Read the full article here.
