ALS Center of Excellence

Pranger ALS Clinic

  • Home
  • About
    • What Is ALS?
    • Scott L. Pranger
    • National Advisory Board
    • Faculty & Staff
    • ALS Center of Excellence Brochure
  • Clinic
    • Services
    • Your Visit to the ALS Clinic
    • Patient Portal
    • Durable Medical Equipment
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Research
    • Clinical Trials
    • Observational Studies
    • Participate in Research at U-M
  • News
  • Patient Care Guide
    • Living with ALS
    • Nutrition
    • Patient & Family Support
  • Contact
  • NeuroNetwork
  • Make A Gift

Latest News

ALS Risk Higher Among Production Workers

… [Read More...]

“Research Into Preventing ALS…”

… [Read More...]

portrait of Dr. Eva Feldman in her lab

Dr. Feldman Given Highest University of Michigan Honor

… [Read More...]

Multidisciplinary Team Publishes Paper on ALS Occupational Risk

… [Read More...]

The ANA Q&A: Dr. Eva Feldman on ALS

… [Read More...]

Leaving a Legacy

“The only thing you take with you when you’re gone is what you leave behind.”

~ John Allston

SHARE YOUR STORY

Life can be a challenging, beautiful, unpredictable, heartbreaking, overwhelming, joyous whirlwind of a journey. Despite the uncertainties that lie ahead, know that you will be remembered. We all have an opportunity to determine how others will remember us.

Leaving a legacy is an important, purposeful act that allows us to give our loved ones, colleagues and friends a part of us to cherish, even after we’re gone. How will you be remembered?

There are countless meaningful ways to share your life with your loved ones that are unique and personal to you. These are just a few ideas to get you started.

  • Create a photo album of your favorite pictures over the years
  • Write letters to your loved ones telling them how much they mean to you
  • Keep a journal that can be shared with your loved ones in the future
  • Fill out a “Remember Book” with important events from your life and family history
  • Create a video or audio tape to share with your loved ones
  • Share your favorite books or movies with your loved ones
  • Teach a skill or hobby you enjoy to your children or grandchildren

BE PREPARED

Share your wishes for the end of life.

Although it’s challenging to think of the end of life to determine our final wishes, it’s so important for family members to be aware of your thoughts and beliefs regarding the end of life. We have all experienced the intense impact of grief, and knowing our loved one’s wishes makes the decisions required in the days following loss much less stressful, and more meaningful.

#1 Prepare an Advance Directive: An advance directive allows you to designate a patient advocate to make decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to make medical decisions yourself. This document also provides space for you to share your wishes regarding life- sustaining medical action and organ donation.

An advance directive is incredibly important for all adults to have, to ensure that a trusted loved one is put in charge of medical decision- making in case of an emergency, and that they are well-informed on how to best advocate for your wishes.

If you would like a UMHS Advance Directives: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care booklet one can be provided to you upon your request by the UMHS ALS Clinic social worker.

In addition, another planning resource that can be helpful is the Five Wishes booklet.  Use the following link to review a sample copy:

https://www.agingwithdignity.org/forms/5wishes.pdf

#2 Designate a Power of Attorney: The person you designate in a power  of attorney (POA) authorization will have the ability to handle your financial and legal matters in the event that you are unable to do so.

#3 Funeral Preplanning: Sharing any preferences or instructions you might have in the event of your death is a loving, selfless act that eases the burden of family members and loved ones who are often left with many decisions to make in a short period of time. Complete this preplanning exercise along with your loved ones – having a conversation about your beliefs and preferences can be important information to share in case of an emergency.

There are a number of planning tools available; however a popular, comprehensive worksheet that is available for free online is the Share Your Wishes.org Preplanning Worksheet (http://www.shareyourwishes.org/worksheet.pdf).

#4 Write a Will: Here are some tips for preparing a will –

  • Working with an attorney is the best way to ensure that your wishes are clearly stated and abide by state
  • If you choose to hire an attorney, ask them up front about fees and expenses.
  • There are kits available at your local bookstore and/or library with helpful templates and instructions for drafting a valid will. There are also numerous resources available online – however, be cautious and make sure the source is
  • Review the responsibilities given to the executor of your will when choosing an

#5 Life Insurance & 401(k) Benefits: Many adults choose to purchase life insurance as a way to ensure their loved ones are financially secure. If you have a life insurance policy, contact your insurance company to find out if you can receive your life insurance benefits ahead of time, given your diagnosis. The same can be true with 401(k) benefits – find out if you can withdraw from your 401(k) without penalty, if you would like to utilize those funds now.

Newsletter Signup

Subscribe to our mailing list for updates regarding our clinic and research

Click Here for the ALS Registry

ALS Center of Excellence at Michigan Medicine ALS Infographic

ALS Brochure

ALS Brochure

 

 

 

 

 

Resources

Organizations

  • ALS Association
  • ALSA-Michigan Chapter
  • Ann Arbor Active Against ALS
  • ALSA-Northern Ohio Chapter
  • ALS of Michigan
  • National ALS Registry
  • Northeast ALS Consortium
  • Muscular Dystrophy Association

Services

  • Veterans Benefits
  • Social Security Benefits

Useful Links

  • U-M Stem Cell Research
  • Center for Stem Cell Biology
  • Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
  • Society for Stem Cell Research

RSS Research News

  • U-M to establish new Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention
  • U-M Depression Center to be named for Eisenberg family, in recognition of $30M in giving
  • Research on aging expands at U-M with $15M in new grants

Contact Information

Michigan Medicine
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: 734-936-4000
Contact Michigan Medicine

Connect With Us

Copyright © 2023 Regents of the University of Michigan · Disclaimer · Privacy Statement

  • About UMHS
  • For Patients
  • For Health Professionals
  • For Researchers
  • Home
  • About
    ▼
    • What Is ALS?
    • Scott L. Pranger
    • National Advisory Board
    • Faculty & Staff
    • ALS Center of Excellence Brochure
  • Clinic
    ▼
    • Services
    • Your Visit to the ALS Clinic
    • Patient Portal
    • Durable Medical Equipment
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Research
    ▼
    • Clinical Trials
    • Observational Studies
    • Participate in Research at U-M
  • News
  • Patient Care Guide
    ▼
    • Living with ALS
    • Nutrition
    • Patient & Family Support
  • Contact
  • NeuroNetwork
  • Make A Gift