On July 30, 2013, the National Alliance for Caregiving and MetLife Foundation hosted a reception and luncheon for the ten 2013 Innovations in Caregiving Grantees in Louisville, KY. The Joe Martin ALS Foundation received the National Innovators in Caregiving Award and accompanying $10,000 grant to develop and maintain our new project: Home Life for PALS (people with ALS).

Gail Hunt, President & CEO of the Alliance, with the awardees at the Louisville conference.
Home Life for PALS is a web-based program designed to help families improve their quality of life by offering solutions to overcome the challenges presented by ALS. The web site will provide answers regarding medical equipment, home modifications, and new disabilities encountered with the disease progression. It will also provide caregiver education on research proven methods for PALS, and to assist families in caring for their loved ones at home. Clear images, instructive videos, concise text, and a user friendly website will make this valuable information available to all who have Internet access including iPhone, android, iPad, and tablet users. A virtual home with images will have “mouse-over” capability to provide users the ability to click on objects in the image. This will teach caregivers about equipment and tools that will make it easier and safer for both the caregiver and patient.
This project is unique in that there are no similar resources available for ALS patients or their caregivers. The program will be coordinated with the Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS Center (providing research-based care giving methods), CapTech (providing skilled volunteer website design), and Apparo (provides IT solutions for nonprofits). Thousands will be able to access and benefit from this much needed web site and resource. By donating to the foundation you are making a difference in peoples’ lives. Thank YOU for helping the foundation continue to improve and find new ways to reach more families who seek answers to caregiving questions.
UPDATE: This is the Home Life for PALS logo that was designed by Micah Chin.