Who We Are
OALA is an organization of volunteers who have an ostomy, family members of an ostomate, and/or are medical professionals. OALA’s website has been updated to reach new and old ostomates and provide information to help in their to return to a normal active life. OALA members know how beneficial seeing and talking with others who have experience – going through the “new ostomate” situation.
The OALA fulfills its mission by:
- Providing a forum for members and their families and friends to share their personal experiences, gain emotional support and mutual understanding, and build hope and reassurance.
- Providing emotional and informational support to new ostomates, or anyone considering an intestinal or urinary diversion, through telephone, in-hospital and/or in-home visits by trained OALA members.
- Raising awareness, providing education, and disseminating information about intestinal and urinary diversions through face-to-face outreach activities.
- Connecting members to information about ostomy products and local and national ostomy manufacturers and distributors.
- Connecting members to resources in the medical community (e.g. UOAA, ACS, WOCN, CCFA, AUA, etc.)
- Informing members of activities and news of other related support associations.
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Who We Serve
Over the years, OALA has attempted to serve ostomates in the greater Los Angeles area.
Currently, OALA is in the going-up portion of the normal up and down cycles that volunteer organizations tend to go through as the number of volunteers varies.
The current meeting locations are selected by member proximity and meeting room availability. The number of active members and people to volunteer to oversee the meetings was small. There is a concentration of members in the San Fernando Valley area and in the West LA/Santa Monica area.
Some future goals are to increase the frequency of meetings and possibly more locations closer to the members.
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Mission Statement
The Ostomy Association of Los Angeles (OALA) is a non-profit, volunteer-based support association dedicated to improving the quality of life of anyone who has or will have an intestinal or urinary diversion.
OALA provides emotional support, education, information, networking opportunities and advocacy to its members, their families, the medical community, and general public in Los Angeles and surrounding communities.
OALA is an Affiliated Support Group of the United Ostomy Associations of America.