Advocating for the ALS Patient with Your Doctor

What should we expect regarding a timeline and how my symptoms might manifest? 

What are the major decisions I’ll have to make regarding my treatment as my symptoms evolve? 

• Medication
• Wheelchair 
• Wheelchair van 
• Feeding tube
• Tracheostomy + ventilator

Since this disease impacts all areas of life, I would like to talk with the following practitioners: 

• Respiratory therapist
• Speech therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Physical therapist
• Nutritionist
• Psychologist 
• Social worker

What is the schedule for my treatment plan? How often will I see the practitioners listed above? 

What are the things I can do, or we can do as a family, to improve my quality of life? 

What is available to me for community support? 

What is hospice and when should we engage with a hospice agency? 

If I’m interested in Medical Aid in Dying, where do I get information? 

Does your clinic support assisting ALS patients with Medical Aid in Dying, if we are interested? If so, do you have additional parameters outside of the law that I need to be made aware of or do you follow the law precisely?