What are aids?

Motor deficits lead to limitations in speaking, writing, handling, carrying, lifting, eating, turning, running, walking, climbing stairs, coughing, breathing and many other functions. Assistive products are basically medical devices or medical products that aim to compensate for functional deficits or replace certain functions that the body can no longer perform independently.

In ALS, assistive devices are used to help with deficits in speaking and writing (communication aids), manual function (environment control and arm robots) and movement of the entire body (transfer and mobility aids). In a broader sense, medical technology to support breathing (ventilators) and coughing (cough assistants) is also referred to as assistive technology. Movement trainers and therapy devices (therapeutic movement devices, therapy tables, sit-to-stand aids, etc.) are also considered assistive products. Other aids are used for personal hygiene, improved positioning and adapting the living environment (e.g. care beds, medical aids, care products including consumables).

The provision of assistive devices is an essential element in the care of people with ALS in order to compensate for existing and progressive deficits with all options that are technically available, reimbursable by cost bearers and desired and usable from the patient’s perspective. The specific need for assistive devices depends on the course of the disease, the individual care goals, the openness towards the provision of assistive devices, the spatial conditions and the social environment.

Medical aids can usually be prescribed at the expense of statutory health insurance. For patients with private health insurance (PKV), there are considerable differences in reimbursement resulting from the various PKV contracts and tariffs. Specialized ALS outpatient clinics focus on providing advice and arranging the prescription of medical aids. Care networks play an important and supportive role in the search for suitable medical aid providers and in overcoming organizational hurdles in the provision of medical aids.