ALS United Ohio

YOUR TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR NAVIGATING LIFE WITH ALS

ALS United Ohio is the only local not-for-profit provider of free and comprehensive services to individuals and families living with ALS in Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana. While many organizations fight ALS more broadly, ALS United Ohio works right here at home, providing personalized, local support to those affected by ALS in our communities.

We are present at clinics, we deliver equipment by hand, and we know the people we serve by name. Our team members are more than employees— they’re lifelines.

ALS United Ohio was founded in 1983 to serve the unique needs of those living with ALS, their families, and their caregivers. Our three mission pillars are Local Care, Advocacy, and Research. Local Care is always our first priority. We provide all programs and services FREE OF CHARGE, thanks to the generous contributions of individuals, businesses and foundations in the community. Donations, sponsorships, and grants are the organization’s sole source of revenue.

YOUR DONATIONS STAY LOCAL

Charitable donations to ALS United Ohio support our mission-critical activities of providing local care, funding cutting-edge research, and advocating at state, and federal levels of government. Donations, sponsorships, and grants are the organization’s sole source of revenue. Our services are not reimbursed by insurance of any kind.

Our strong commitment to gift stewardship means that donors are assured that their gifts are well deployed for the purpose intended. We affirm the “Donor Bill of Rights” and share financial statements online so donors can easily see how funding is used to support the ALS community.

ABOUT ALS

Most of us know ALS as Lou Gehrig’s disease, but it stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It’s an insidious disease that takes away everything. It steals a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe.

More than 5,000 people are diagnosed each year - that's one every 90 minutes. Average life expectancy is only two to five years beyond diagnosis. 

Only 10% of ALS cases are familial; 90% of ALS cases strike at random without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, income, or health status. In other words, ALS can strike anyone, at any time. 

Military veterans are twice as likely to get ALS as the general public, regardless of their branch of service or whether they served in peacetime or war.

There's no cure or long-term effective treatments for ALS, but scientists have made significant progress in research. Together, we will help people live with the disease until cures and treatments are found.

LOCAL SERVICES

Our experienced ALS healthcare consultants help people navigate their illness with independence, connection, peace of mind, and quality of life through the following services:

Case Management - Registered patients are assigned a Care Services Coordinator who guides them through all aspects of their support and care. These nurses and social workers are knowledgeable about the complexities of ALS care and the resources available. Having a single point of contact provides personalized attention and continuity of care.

ALS Clinics - Care Services Coordinators collaborate with hospital-based, state-of-the-art multidisciplinary ALS clinics at the University of Cincinnati and OhioHealth in Columbus. These clinics address complex needs in a supportive atmosphere with an emphasis on hope and quality of life. This interprofessional care has been shown to extend lives and improve quality of life for people with ALS. 

Equipment Program - People with ALS who are registered with our organization can access needed equipment and supplies through three aspects of our program:

1. DME Loans – People with ALS can borrow durable medical equipment (DME) and assistive technology (subject to availability) at no cost.
2. AdaptAbility Items - Free single-use adaptive or smart home equipment to promote safety and independence.
3. Free Fridays & Marketplace Mondays Exchanges – Weekly emails connecting people with ALS and their families with one another so they can give or sell supplies and equipment as their needs change.

Patient Grant Program – Quality of Life reimbursement grants provide up to $1,200 per patient per year to support disease-related expenses.

Education & Exchange Groups – Monthly meetings provide an opportunity for patients, caregivers, family members, friends and professionals to connect, learn, share and grow throughout their ALS experience.

Information & Resources - We provide ongoing ALS education and information for patients, healthcare professionals, caregivers and others through its monthly print and electronic newsletters, its robust lending library of resources, phone and in-office consultations, and on-site continuing education.

Family & Caregiver Support – Our care services team provides children’s ALS resources, bereavement support, resource referrals, and caregiver appreciation to help families through their experiences.