Starting a New Year with ALS: Finding Connection Through Support Groups

A new year often brings hope—fresh calendars, quiet resolutions, and the sense that something new can begin. For individuals and families living with ALS, the turning of the year can feel more complex. Hope doesn’t always look like big plans or bold goals. Sometimes, it looks like finding a place to belong, people who understand, and moments of connection that make life with ALS feel less overwhelming.

For many families in our community, the New Year begins with learning how to live alongside ALS. There are new routines to navigate, emotions to process, and questions that don’t always have easy answers. Again and again, we see how hope shows up not as denial of reality, but as resilience rooted in community—especially when people come together to support one another. That sense of connection is at the heart of Living Well with ALS – Support Groups, the new name for our long-standing ALS support groups, offered by ALS Arizona. While the name is new, the purpose remains the same: to create welcoming, understanding spaces where individuals living with ALS and their caregivers can share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others who truly “get it.”

One caregiver recently shared that hope, for them, meant knowing they didn’t have to face ALS alone. It meant having someone to call who understood. It meant sitting in a room—or logging on virtually—with people who didn’t need explanations. That feeling of being seen and supported can make all the difference, especially on days that feel heavy.

Living Well with ALS – Support Group Locations

East Valley – In Person
2nd Tuesday of the month | 1:00–3:00 PM
McQueen Park Activity Center
510 N Horne St, Gilbert, AZ 85233

West Valley – In Person
3rd Tuesday of the month | 1:00–3:00 PM
Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center
5600 W Union Hills Dr, Glendale, AZ 85308

Tucson – In Person
4th Monday of the month | 1:00–3:00 PM
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
1200 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719

Northern Arizona – In Person
4th Thursday of the month | 1:00–3:00 PM
Starting Point Church
3106 Gateway Blvd, Prescott, AZ 86303

Statewide – Virtual
3rd Wednesday of the month | 6:00–7:30 PM
Click here to join

Central Arizona – In Person
1st Tuesday of the month | 6:00–7:30 PM
ALS Arizona Conference Room
360 E Coronado Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Tucson – In Person
3rd Wednesday of the month | 1:00–3:00 PM
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
1200 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719

Grief, Resilience & Hope After Loss

Support doesn’t end after loss. Grief after ALS is complex and deeply personal, often carrying many emotions at once. Grief, Resilience & Hope After Loss is a statewide virtual support group for individuals navigating life after losing someone to ALS. This group offers space to reflect, share memories, and find understanding among others who truly get it.

Statewide – Virtual
3rd Wednesday of each month | 5:30–7:30 PM
Click here to join

Some participants come to talk. Others come to listen. All are welcome. Together, this community creates space for remembrance, resilience, and hope—one conversation at a time.

As this New Year unfolds, hope may look like showing up to a support group for the first time, listening more than speaking, or simply knowing there is a place you are always welcome. These gatherings remind us that while ALS changes life, it does not erase connection, compassion, or community.

To explore all Living Well with ALS, caregiver, and grief support groups, visit:
https://alsaz.org/navigating-als/support-groups/

➡️ Learn more about ALS Arizona’s support groups and discover a community ready to support you—today and throughout the year ahead.