Alaska Chapter

Support & Services

LFA provides information and programs in your community to help people with lupus and their families.

SUPPORT

MESSAGE BOARDS

 
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) has added message boards to the Community section of its Website (lupus.org) as a service to people with lupus and their families.  The message boards provide an opportunity for individuals to reach out and seek answers to questions about living and coping with lupus, as well as support one another in an understanding and caring environment. To access the message boards go online to www.lupus.org/messageboards. 
 
People with lupus often suffer from severe joint pain, overwhelming fatigue, and organ damage, which can be disabling and isolating. The LFA message boards are a valuable resource for individuals who are not able to attend support group meetings or education programs, particularly those who live in rural areas or where no local resource is available.  In addition, message board users can anonymously seek help without fear of revealing sensitive medical information to friends or employers.   
 
Initial discussion topics on the message boards will include Recently Diagnosed with Lupus, Lupus Treatments, Men with Lupus, Teens with Lupus, and Coping with Lupus. There also is a category for discussing topics featured on LFA Webchats. Additional topics will be added based on feedback from message board participants.
 
Individuals visiting the LFA message boards can view what others have posted, post their own questions, or share comments about topics of interest. The message boards will serve to create an online community where people living with lupus, their relatives and friends, caregivers, and information seekers can meet, bond, share ideas, and build hope.

SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

ANCHORAGE support group meetings are generally held on the third Saturday of each month (except November and December). The meetings are open to anyone who would like to attend. A light lunch or snacks are usually available during the meeting. Please call us to confirm the dates and times of meetings (338-6332 in Anchorage).

Location:   4240 Old Seward Highway, Suite 11 in the City Center Mall (located at the corner of Tudor Road and Old Seward Highway).

Time:   The meetings are held from 1 pm to 3 pm. 

FAIRBANKS support group meetings are currently in the planning stages. We hope to have everything in place to start up the meetings in 2009. Please let us know if you are interested in attending!

NEW SUPPORT GROUP BEING PLANNED - We are in the process of planning a new support group meeting to be held during the week during the lunch hour. Please let us know if you might be interested and what days and times might work for you. Please email your comments to lfa_alaska@hotmail.com.

OTHER SUPPORT

  • Phone and Email: We offer support every day via phone or email. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would just like someone to talk to about the challenges of lupus. You can call our office at 907-338-6332 or 800-307-7858 (within the state of Alaska), or email us at lfa_alaska@hotmail.com.
  • Help With Special Needs: We can assist you with special equipment needs, obtaining free or low cost medications, filing for Social Security Disability, finding special airfares if your health requires treatment outside the state of Alaska, and reduced cost eye or dental exams, etc.
  • Education: We have a vast library of books, articles, brochures, DVDs, and videos available to the public. We offer free educational seminars several times a year. The LFA Alaska Chapter has a group of speakers available for presentations.
  • Child Support: We know how important it is to have an occasional break when you are feeling exhausted or having a lupus flare. Although the LFA Alaska Chapter cannot offer child care services, please call us at 338-6332 for information about local resources available to you.  

WEB SUPPORT

The following links are available to help answer any questions you might have on patient advocacy, disability, assistance with drug costs, or other health issues related to lupus.

Patient Advocacy

Drug Cost Assistance

Disability

Other Health Issues