| Rocky Mountain Chapter - Serving all of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah |
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Hello!
It was so great to see so many of you at our annual
Walk to Defeat ALS
events in Colorado! Thank you for your support and participation. We hope that you and your loved ones enjoyed the day. We are already planning ahead for our walks next year, including one in Utah!
Our support groups this month have a variety of presentations, so we hope you can join us at one. There are also some great webinars for learning from the comfort of your own home.
We hope you enjoy these lovely fall days and the changing of the leaves. Please stay in touch and let us know if you need anything. We are here to help!
Leslie Ryan, Suzanne Schrag, Mary King and Emily Jordison
303.832.2322 in Colorado or Wyoming
385.227.2217 in Utah
866.ALS.3211 Toll Free
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Another Piece of the Puzzle
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If your hand slips while trying to hold onto grab bars or countertops, use a pair of gloves with a grip surface. Garden gloves or soccer gloves work well.
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Announcements
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The Denver, CO Support Group will be having a presentation about Wheelchair Accessible Vans and Home Modifications.
The
Louisville, CO Support Group
will be having a presentation about
Emergency Preparedness by the Louisville Fire Department.
The Colorado Springs Support Group will be having a presentation about Estate Planning, Wills, Advance Directives and More.
The
Ogden, UT
Support Group will be having a presentation on
Communication Devices.
All other chapter support groups will be having an open discussion this month.
There is a new
Anticipatory Grief Support Group starting next month in
Riverton, UT. This group is not just for those facing ALS, but is definitely beneficial. Contact
Emily for more information.
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| Chapter Staff |
Emmy Anderson,
Development Director
All staff can be reached at 303.832.2322
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| Affiliated ALS Clinics |
The ALS Clinic at Colorado Neurological Institute
Dr. Marc Treihaft
Meets the 1st Tuesday, monthly
303-788-4010
The ALS Clinic at Kaiser, Denver
Dr. Robert Schabbing
Dr. Heidi Ray
Meets the 2nd Thursday, monthly
303-861-3218
The Motor Neuron Disease Clinic at the University of Utah
Dr. Mark Bromberg
Dr. Summer Gibson
Meets every Wednesday
801-585-7575
Contact us for more information about any of our clinic partners or general clinic questions.
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Current Topics
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Dressing with Ease, Style and Comfort
Dressing and undressing are often challenging task among people with limited mobility. While buttons and zippers are frustrating for some folks, others may find reaching arms through armholes of putting legs through leg holes tedious chores. Besides the obstacles people face for dressing independently, it is not always easy for their assistants. Wearing accessible clothes and selecting attire to meet individual needs will make dressing easier, sparing unnecessary aggravation and fatigue.
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Research Update
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Smoking and ALS
An Italian Study of 650 people with ALS has shown that smoking may increase the progression rate of the disease. Researchers collected data on patients that had ALS and currently smoke; those that smoked in the past but have since quit and those that have never smoked in their lives. The study shows that the survival rate for those that have never smoked is almost an additional year (0.8 yrs) and that the current smokers were all diagnosed at a younger age. Researchers are looking at genetic factors that may be a cause of ALS but they also continue to look at how environmental factors play a role in the occurrence & progression of the disease.
FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Potential ALS Treatment, Edaravone
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for edaravone (MCI-186), a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The FDA accepted the NDA in August, which is currently under review. Edaravone is only the third ALS treatment to ever advance this far in the drug development process. The ALS Association joins the ALS community in urging timely review of this potential therapy so that, if approved, it becomes available to people living with ALS as quickly as possible.
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Upcoming Webinars
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Care Services Education
Getting The Most Out of Your Power Seat Function-Technologies for Health and Independence
Monday, Oct 24 2016
12:00 p.m. MDT
Register Here
Our expert guest presenter, Ginger Walls, PT, MS, NCS, ATP/SMS is a Regional Clinical Education Manager for Permobil, with over 27 years of expertise in neuro rehab and wheelchair seating/mobility. Ms. Walls frequently presents to professional audiences during clinical conferences nationwide.
An Overview of Medicare for People Living with ALS with an Emphasis on Medicare's Home Health Benefit.
On Demand
Presented by Center for Medicare Advocacy Associate Director Kathy Holt and Executive Director Judith Stein, this webinar addresses topics including: an overview of the Medicare program with particular focus on the home health benefit, Medicare eligibility and enrollment, and Medicare payment rules and assistance.
Genomic Translation for ALS Care (GTAC study): Envisioning the Precision Medicine Future for ALS
Tuesday, Oct 11, 2016
2:00 PM MDT
Matthew Harms, Ph.D., Director of GTAC and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center will be the speaker for this webinar. Genomic Translation for ALS Care (GTAC) is a collaboration with Biogen and Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) to better understand how different genes contribute to various clinical forms of ALS. This will in turn help researchers design better, more focused clinical trials for the development of more effective treatments. This kind of precision medicine, in which treatment is tailored to each person's unique genetic makeup, will be effectively applied to ALS. On October 11th, join us to learn more about this exciting strategic initiative supported by The ALS Association.
The ALS Association/NEALS Webinar
ALS Clinical Trial Pipeline Series
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016
11:00 a.m. MDT
Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc, from Massachusetts General Hospital will review the ALS clinical trial pipeline and answer questions about the current state of clinical research. This webinar will focus on current and upcoming ALS clinical trials.
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Equipment Corner
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Library
Did you know that the Association has a library of books available to borrow? We have quite a number of topics ranging from medical guides on ALS and being a caregiver to the grieving process as well as inspirational stories such as "Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man" & "Journey with ALS: Personal Tales of Courage and Coping". If you would like more information on our books or to check one out please contact us.
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Mark Your Calendar
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Upcoming Support Groups
Louisville, CO Support Group - Tuesday, Oct 11
Riverton, UT Support Group - Tuesday, Oct 11
Grand Junction, CO Support Group - Thursday, Oct 13
Colorado Springs, CO Support Group - Tuesday, Oct 18
Ogden, UT Support Group - Thursday, Oct 20
Denver, CO Support Group -
Saturday,
Oct 15
Loveland, CO Support Group - Tuesday, Oct 25
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Thank You to our 2016 L
ocal Care Services Sponsors!
If you or your company would like to become a sponsor, please contact us! |
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| The ALS Association Rocky Mountain Chapter 10855 Dover St., Ste. 500 Westminster, CO 80021 (303) 832-2322 www.alsaco.org |
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