Abstract
AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis is one of a group of neurologic diseases that present with symptoms of gradual inevitable decline in the ability to function independently. It is rare, affecting a very small fraction of the population of the United States. Patients face a unique set of challenges that in turn profoundly challenge the interdisciplinary care teams. They are mentally, emotionally, and psychologically present as they progressively lose control of voluntary movement. The emotional and psychological experience of this disease, and other neurologic diseases, is one of progressive loss. Individuals frequently attempt to maintain control where they can, and this can complicate family dynamics and contribute to the level of stress in the home and may interfere with the provision of good medical care. These adaptations and losses along the continuum of illness invite the expertise of the social workers who contribute as members of interdisciplinary teams.
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