The Foundation's goal is to help people with ALS and their family members deal with all aspects of this difficult disease. We realize that not all issues can be best addressed at ALS clinic appointments or support group meetings, therefore, the Foundation provides in-home visits by a licensed social worker and ALS nurse consultants. Some of the services provided by these staff members are listed below.

The Home Care and Community Services Team is comprised of three registered nurses and one social worker who perform various functions for the Foundation. The team offers services in the comfort and privacy of a patient's home at no cost, and provide ongoing information, assessment, support and coordination of care to any ALS patient in the Chicago area. These services include:

• Maintaining phone support for patients, families and professionals.
• Making home visits to assess the home environment for any needed adaptations and to facilitate family meetings.
• Consulting with home health agencies and hospices to coordinate care for patients.
• Providing in-services for home health agencies, hospices, case management groups, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
• Helping families evaluate residential facilities for patients.
• Providing assistance with a living will, medical power of attorney and end of life issues.

Staff
Shari Diamond, R.N., B.S.N., ALS nurse consultant, received her bachelor of science in nursing from Northwestern University. Shari was previously the clinical nurse coordinator at the Lois Insolia ALS Center from 1986 to 1991. Prior to that, she was a head nurse on the ENT/Head and Neck Oncology Unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She has since worked as a nurse clinical manager at a long term care facility run by the Council for the Jewish Elderly.

Laurie B. Fieldman, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., director of social services, received a master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1993 and one from National Louis University in 1992.

Ileane Mindel, R.N., ALS nurse consultant, graduated from Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing of the City University of New York and previously worked at Hospice of the North Shore where she served as Coordinator of Patient Care and Payer Development.

Judy Richman, R.N., B.S.N., ALS nurse consultant, joined the staff in September 2007. Judy brings several years of nursing experience and ALS care to the Foundation, and has most recently worked with University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center.
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The Director of Social Services is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) , and part of the team, who assists patients and families with a variety of issues. The functions of the social worker include the following:

• Talking with patients and/or families regarding any changes in physical health, emotional well-being or job situation. This may also include discussions in which the LCSW can provide information regarding Disability, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and financial resources.
• Assisting the family in maximizing assistance for care of the patient. This may include accessing care through state-assisted programs or hiring a caregiver with out-of-pocket resources.
• Making home visits for counseling with patients and/or family members. Counseling may be for an individual, a couple or a group - such as a family meeting. These visits may be made on an on-going schedule, or on an as-needed basis.
• Consulting with parents and/or grandparents (at clinic, by phone or in a home visit) regarding the emotional care of children in the family who are touched by ALS. The LCSW can provide guidance on how to talk with children of all ages about the disease throughout the entire progression.
• Making home visits specifically to work with children whose family member (usually a parent or grandparent) has ALS.
• Providing consultation to other professionals working with ALS patients/families.
• Providing bereavement support as requested by family members.
• Providing assistance with a living will, medical power of attorney and
  end of life issues.

Claire Owen, L.P.N., patient services director, is a former hospice nurse and has been with the Les Turner Foundation since 1989. She has extensive experience in matching patient and family needs to available resources.

For more information, please contact Claire Owen, at   cowen@lesturnerals.org   or (847) 679-3311.