In Honor of National Family Caregivers Month, Lotsa Helping Hands Launches New Feature That Connects Its Community Members to Resources From Leading Healthcare Nonprofit Organizations

MAYNARD, Mass., Nov. 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Lotsa Helping Hands, the leading provider of a web-based caregiving coordination service, today announces a new feature that connects its community members to trusted resources from many of the nation's leading healthcare nonprofit organizations.  Since the launch of Lotsa Helping Hands, the service has included a coordination calendar to organize volunteer tasks for the recipient family, a vital information section to store health and legal data, as well as community sections for members to post photos and well wishes and participate in message boards. Today, the company adds to its already robust set of features by providing access to resources from a growing list of the nation's leading healthcare nonprofit organizations.

"There have been more than 80 million visits to Lotsa Helping Hands communities, and our members are very active, visiting their private web site daily to sign up to help the recipient family, get medical status updates, and post messages.  We recognize that community members who are eager to help the family also want to learn more about the particular challenges for their situation, whether coping with muscular dystrophy, a cancer diagnosis, or caregiving responsibilities.  We are so pleased to not only be in partnership with these trusted organizations, but to have the opportunity to provide this additional benefit to our community members and quickly connect them to the information they need," says Hal Chapel, Co-Founder and CEO.

Groups such as the American Lung Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Health Council, National Family Caregivers Association, Wounded Warrior Project, American Parkinson Disease Association and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will now be providing links to resources for members of the communities.  Patients, family caregivers, and those wishing to support them can create a free community web site from one of the partner sites, or by going to www.lotsahelpinghands.com.  Plans are underway to grow this list of nonprofit partners that can provide resources to members.

"We are delighted to be among the list of organizations that is helping to launch this important feature with Lotsa Helping Hands. People with chronic diseases and disabilities and their families have many questions and concerns, as do their circle of friends. Now, there is another way for them to connect to this important resource, through their online community," says Myrl Weinberg, President, National Health Council.

About Lotsa Helping Hands

Lotsa Helping Hands, a social entrepreneurial company, was created to support family caregivers by empowering their family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues who are eager to help with the daily tasks that become a challenge during times of medical crisis or caregiver exhaustion. www.lotsahelpinghands.com

About American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through Education, Advocacy and Research.

About Muscular Dystrophy Association

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.

About National Health Council

The National Health Council is the only organization of its kind that brings together all segments of the health care community to provide a united voice for the more than 133 million people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers.

About National Family Caregivers Association

National Family Caregivers Association envisions an America in which family caregivers lead full and productive lives, free from depression, pain, isolation, and financial distress.  NFCA provides family caregivers support, education, and a public voice.

About Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) exists to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide programs and services to meet their needs.

About American Parkinson Disease Association

American Parkinson Disease Association meets its unique dual mission to "Ease the Burden - Find the Cure" through a national network of 45 chapters, 53 Information & Referral (I&R) centers and approximately 1,000 support groups.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

SOURCE Lotsa Helping Hands