The Foundation provides several opportunities for ALS patients and their families to come together, offering support to each other and receiving the professional advice and guidance of the Patient Services Team.
Monthly support groups allow patients and caregivers to give and receive emotional support and to share information and practical experience. Groups are professionally facillitated. Participants are encouraged to express their feelings about ALS openly—whether fear, anger, guilt or other emotions. Support groups provide a welcoming environment and a sense of camaraderie with others who are living with this devastating disease. These groups are offered at no cost.
The following support group meetings are open to patients, family members, caregivers and friends. Each facility is wheelchair accessible and offers free parking. We request that you RSVP if you are planning to attend any of these meetings. If no one responds, meetings will not be held.
Please contact Claire Owen at cowen@lesturnerals.org or (847) 679-3311 to RSVP, for more information on any support groups or meetings, or to be placed on our support group mailing list.
Barrington
Please join us for our new Barrington support group, which begins meeting in January 2013.
Where: Northeast Illinois Hospice, Pepper Family House, 405 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington
Upcoming Dates: Saturday, May 18
Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
Facilitator(s): Laurie B. Fieldman, L.C.S.W. and Shari Diamond, R.N., B.S.N.
Skokie
Where: Temple Beth Israel, 3601 Dempster Street, Skokie
Upcoming Dates: Wednesday, May 8
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Facilitator(s): Ileane Mindel, R.N. and Anne Lidsky, Ph.D.
Directions: Call (847) 675-0951
Wheaton
Where: Marianjoy Rehab Center, Outpatient Pavilion. 26 W 171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton.
Upcoming Dates: Saturday, May 25
Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
Facilitator(s): Ileane Mindel, R.N. and Elsa Cherwak, P.T.
Directions: Park on the garden level, and enter the facility through the sliding glass doors to the reception area. The group meets in the Conference Center, first floor. As with all our support group meeting locations, the facility is wheelchair accessible and parking is free. Call (630) 909-8439 if you have questions or need additional information.
Our thanks to all those who came out for our ALS Education Forum. Special thanks to guest speaker Richard Bedlack, MD, PhD, of Duke University and the ALSUntangled project. ALSUntangled uses social networking to investignation alternative and off-label treatment options for people with ALS. Please visit the ALSUntangled website to learn more.
Congratulations to Dick Jacobson, Patient of the Year, and Mike "Mish" Shedlock, Volunteer of the Year. We hope to see you all at next year's event!
For more information, contact Claire Owen at cowen@lesturnerals.org or (847) 679-3311.
The Practical Solutions Seminar is a free two-hour meeting covering information about symptom management, care giving, research and clinical trials, and programs and resources available through the Les Turner ALS Foundation. The seminar is presented by staff from the Les Turner Home Care and Community Services Team and the Les Turner/Lois Insolia ALS Center. These meetings are currently held on a semi-annual basis.
For more information on upcoming Practical Solutions Seminars, contact Claire Owen at cowen@lesturnerals.org or (847) 679-3311.
Bereavement counseling is available and offered as needed. Please contact Claire Owen at cowen@lesturnerals.org or (847) 679-3311 for more information.
Shari Diamond, RN, BSN, ALS nurse consultant since 2005, received her bachelor of science in nursing from Northwestern University. Shari was previously the clinical nurse coordinator at the Les Turner/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.
Laurie B. Fieldman, MSW, LCSW, Director of Social Services, received a master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1993 and one from National Louis University in 1992. She has been with the Foundation since 1999.
Anne Lidsky, PhD, has served as a support group leader since 1983. She received her B.A. from the University of Illinois, her MA from Northeastern Illinois State University and her PhD in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University.
Ileane Mindel, RN, ALS nurse consultant since 1995, 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.
