Use the labels in the right column to find what you want. Or you can go thru them one by one, there are only 33,991 posts. Searching is done in the search box in upper left corner. I blog on anything to do with stroke. DO NOT DO ANYTHING SUGGESTED HERE AS I AM NOT MEDICALLY TRAINED, YOUR DOCTOR IS, LISTEN TO THEM. BUT I BET THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET YOU 100% RECOVERED. I DON'T EITHER BUT HAVE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOCTOR TO ANSWER.
Changing stroke rehab and research worldwide now.Time is Brain!trillions and trillions of neuronsthatDIEeach day because there areNOeffective hyperacute therapies besides tPA(only 12% effective). I have 523 posts on hyperacute therapy, enough for researchers to spend decades proving them out. These are my personal ideas and blog on stroke rehabilitation and stroke research. Do not attempt any of these without checking with your medical provider. Unless you join me in agitating, when you need these therapies they won't be there.
What this blog is for:
My blog is not to help survivors recover, it is to have the 10 million yearly stroke survivors light fires underneath their doctors, stroke hospitals and stroke researchers to get stroke solved. 100% recovery. The stroke medical world is completely failing at that goal, they don't even have it as a goal. Shortly after getting out of the hospital and getting NO information on the process or protocols of stroke rehabilitation and recovery I started searching on the internet and found that no other survivor received useful information. This is an attempt to cover all stroke rehabilitation information that should be readily available to survivors so they can talk with informed knowledge to their medical staff. It lays out what needs to be done to get stroke survivors closer to 100% recovery. It's quite disgusting that this information is not available from every stroke association and doctors group.
Showing posts with label stroke support group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stroke support group. Show all posts
Complete admission THAT YOU ARE A MASSIVE FUCKING FAILURE AT 100% RECOVERY FOR SURVIVORS! Will your incompetent board of directors at least reconstitute the hospital with the correct objective? 100% recovery for all is the only goal in stroke!
HAWAII ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) - Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital is launching a new support group for stroke survivors and their caregivers.
The free group will meet every other month and offer education, open discussions, practical recovery tools and guest speakers to help participants navigate life after a stroke.
Hospital officials said the first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Mauna Kea-Mauna Loa conference room at Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital.
The sessions will be led by speech-language pathologist Amy Shipley of the hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Department.
“The stroke support group is all about supporting the families and people who are in recovery from stroke,” Shipley said. “Having an informal meeting where people can discuss the triumphs and hardships and nuances of recovery is really important.”
The support group is free and open to the public, and no registration is required.
This is a blaring announcement THAT THIS HOSPITAL IS A COMPLETE FAILURE AT 100% RECOVERY! There can be no excuses, everyone here has known since medical stroke that stroke recovery is a COMPLETE FAILED SHITSHOW and done nothing to fix that!
Different Strokes is pleased to announce the launch of a new Stroke Survivor Support Group in Jarrow, providing a welcoming space for working-age and younger stroke survivors to connect with others who understand life after stroke. The Jarrow Stroke Support Group will be run by volunteers Karen and Mark, and will meet on the third Saturday of each month, starting on Saturday 21 February 2026, from 10.00 to 11.30. The group will offer a relaxed and supportive environment where stroke survivors can meet others, share experiences, and feel less alone. Family members and carers are also welcome to attend. Venue:
Bilton Hall Community Centre, Taunton Avenue, Jarrow, NE32 3RT
When:
Third Saturday of the month, 10.00 – 11.30
First meeting: Saturday 21 February 2026
Why this group matters: Karlyn’s story The Jarrow group is being set up with the support of Karen and Mark’s daughter, Karlyn, who survived an ischaemic stroke at the age of 37. Before her stroke in July 2020, Karlyn was fit and active, taking part in events such as the London Marathon and Great North Run. Her stroke came without warning and left her with aphasia, paralysis on one side, and a long, difficult recovery. Like many younger stroke survivors, Karlyn found that support after leaving hospital was limited, and she often felt unsure about what help was available. Through finding Different Strokes, Karlyn discovered that recovery does not follow a fixed timeline and that peer support can make a real difference. Access to information, private physiotherapy, and the Different Strokes community helped her regain confidence and return to work. Now, Karlyn and her family hope the Jarrow group will offer others what she wished she had earlier in her recovery — a place to meet people who understand, share experiences, and support one another. “I hope being able to meet other stroke survivors will be a positive and life-enhancing experience. We are called stroke survivors for a reason.”
If your hospital needs a stroke support group, IT MEANS THEY ARE AN ABSOLUTE FUCKING FAILURE AT GETTING SURVIVORS RECOVERED!
Everyone there needs to be fired! I take no prisoners in trying to get stroke solved! And measuring 'care' rather than recovery is over the top incompetence!
In 2024, only 56.3% of stroke patients attending NHS Lothian hospitals received the stroke care(NOT RECOVERY!) bundle – which is associated with better patient outcomes – against a Scotland-wide health board average of 52.9% and a national, government target of 80%.
Ross Thomson
16:02, 25 Aug 2025
John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland(Image: WSH])
Figures released by Public Health Scotland this month show that 1,446 people in the NHS Lothian area had a stroke in 2024 and the health board struggled to meet national targets for providing basic stroke care(NOT RECOVERY!).
In 2024, only 56.3% of stroke patients attending NHS Lothian hospitals received the stroke care(NOT RECOVERY!) bundle – which is associated with better patient outcomes – against a Scotland-wide health board average of 52.9% and a national, government target of 80%.
The 2024 figure was up on the 2023 position of 54.3%, but still shows ongoing challenges that the Stroke Association puts down to wider hospital systems failures and an urgent need for the Scottish Government and health board leaders to make stroke a priority.
Commenting on the new figures, John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “We work closely with stroke teams and recognise the tremendous efforts made by staff on the ground. But they can’t fix this on their own.
“It is political decisions, from the Scottish Government and health board leadership, that determine the resources, equipment and staff available to them.”
NHS Lothian is doing better in six-month post-stroke reviews, for which they have progressed from amber ratings in 2022 and 2023 to green in 2024, to provide stroke survivors with the opportunity to review their recovery with a health professional and make plans for further rehabilitation, if need be.
However, in common with six other Scottish health boards, the board has been rated amber for psychological care(NOT RECOVERY!) in the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme (SSIP) annual report for as long as data has been collected on this vital aspect of recovery (since 2023).
NHS Lothian has been rated amber for psychological care(NOT RECOVERY!) for the past three years, suggesting there is only some evidence of this support being provided to patients. As have NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Tayside.
Figures in the SSIP report are drawn from the annual Scottish Stroke Care Audit where health boards are encouraged to give an honest appraisal of their performance, so they can identify service deficits and work to improve standards of care(NOT RECOVERY!).
John Watson concludes: “This year’s report shows a mixed bag of stroke care(NOT RECOVERY!) delivery. Acute care(NOT RECOVERY!) is still at the mercy of wider hospital systems failures such as bottlenecks in A&E while psychological and emotional support is a long way from where it needs to be.”
(Well, John Watson and Jenni Minto; First you need to change your mindset from 'care' delivery to MEASURING RECOVERY RESULTS! Survivors don't give a flying fuck about 'care'! They want to know EXACTLY HOW YOU ARE GETTING THEM RECOVERED!)
Public health minister Jenni Minto said the Scottish Government was “focused on ensuring people who have had a stroke receive the best possible care(NOT RECOVERY!) as quickly as possible to enable them to live longer, healthier and more independent lives”.
Ms Minto added: “We will continue to work with health boards to drive up standards of local care(NOT RECOVERY!).
“We know there is more to do but it is pleasing to see a rise in the number of patients receiving thrombectomy treatment. We will continue work towards increasing access to these procedures.
“We have invested more than £51 million and are grateful to teams across Scotland for helping to expand the thrombectomy service.”
The Stroke Association supports stroke survivors and their families online, by phone and in the community. Anyone affected by stroke can find out more at www.stroke.org.uk/scotland.
Alternatively you can call the dedicated Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100 for information, guidance or a chat when times are tough.
Which means these hospitals are complete
failures at getting stroke survivors 100% recovered! This is a negative,
NOT a positive view of these hospitals! Stroke
hospitals that require setting up a stroke support group ARE COMPLETE
FUCKING FAILURES AT GETTING SURVIVORS 100% RECOVERED.
Send me hate mail on this:
oc1dean@gmail.com. I'll print your complete statement with your name and my
response in my blog. Or are you afraid to engage with my stroke-addled
mind? Your patients need an explanation of why you aren't working on 100% recovery protocols.
Why isn't your doctor solving stroke?
Laziness? Incompetence? Or just don't care? NO leadership? NO strategy? Not my job? Not my Problem
Join
us for a Stroke Support Group, a place where survivors and caregivers
can come together to share personal experiences, feelings, recovery
strategies, and firsthand information on managing life after stroke.
Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center in Hamilton.
The group will be facilitated and presented by RWJ Rehabilitation
Hamilton team members, Ashley Sarrol, Speech-Language Pathologist, and
Allyson Panikowski Berry, Occupational Therapist. Stroke survivors and
care partners at any stage of recovery are welcome and encouraged to
attend.
Stroke
hospitals that require setting up a stroke support group ARE COMPLETE
FUCKING FAILURES AT GETTING SURVIVORS 100% RECOVERED.
Send me hate mail on this:
oc1dean@gmail.com. I'll print your complete statement with your name and my
response in my blog. Or are you afraid to engage with my stroke-addled
mind? Your patients need an explanation of why you aren't working on 100% recovery protocols.
Why isn't your doctor solving stroke? Oh, your doctor is a follower; NOT A LEADER! Why hasn't s/he been fired yet?
Laziness? Incompetence? Or just don't care? NO leadership? NO strategy? Not my job? Not my Problem?
FRONT ROYAL — According to the World Stroke Association, someone
suffers a stroke every 45 seconds in the United States. Over 12 million
people worldwide will have a stroke each year, and around 7.3 million
people will die as a result.
May is designated as National Stroke
Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about stroke, promoting
prevention and improving care for stroke survivors. The month also
highlights the importance of recognizing stroke warning signs and acting
quickly to seek medical attention, said Juhi Vora, a speech-language
pathologist who runs the Front Royal Stroke Support Group through Warren
Memorial Hospital.
Formed in 2011 to provide stroke survivors and
their caregivers with emotional support and resources for recovery, the
group meets monthly to share stories, build camaraderie, learn and have
fun.
“Strokes
affect everybody very differently,” said Vora, noting that while some
are mostly impacted physically, others struggle with speaking and
communication or cognition and memory.
The group, which ranges in
size between 10 to 20 people depending on the activity, is also varied
in age, with some members in their 30s and others in their 70s and 80s.
Vora
said that many group members — and their caregivers — experience
emotional anxiety, depression from a loss of independence and social
isolation.
“Not everyone understands this journey and the toll it
takes not only on a stroke survivor, but also on their caregivers,” she
said. “It’s a full-time job for the caregivers. We make them feel that
they’re not alone in this journey and that there is hope. There is
recovery. Things will get better and they will find the support and
connection they need in the recovery process.”
Stroke survivors Michael Fletcher and Joshua Kopetz attend the support group regularly and say it has been invaluable to them.
Fletcher,
who grew up in Front Royal and graduated from Warren County High School
in 1985, was working for Verizon at the time of his stroke 16 years
ago.
He woke up one September morning to find himself paralyzed.
“I
don’t remember being in pain. I remember when they told me I’d had a
stroke, I knew recovering from the stroke was going to be the hardest
work I've ever done in my life — and it was,” said Fletcher, who said he
walks with a cane because of the stroke’s effect on his left side.
He said he worked diligently to recover from the stroke, and continues to exercise to stay mobile.
In
the midst of physical and occupational therapy, former Warren Memorial
occupational therapist Michelle Davies reached out to Fletcher and told
him she was starting the support group.
“We have a camaraderie.
Stroke has affected everyone the same, but different. Everybody has
different effects from stroke, but we’ve all suffered the same thing,”
Fletcher said. “I love the group. We have a sense of closeness when
we’re all together. We all like each other.”
A 2000 graduate of
Warren County High School, Kopetz lives in Ladysmith with his wife. He
comes to Front Royal every month to visit his parents, attend doctor’s
appointments and participate in the support group.
“At
first I didn't want to go,” recalled Kopetz, who suffered a stroke in
August 2020 after breaking his shoulder in a fall. “My anxiety was way
up after the strokes, but since I've been going there, I’ve been meeting
other people who are an inspiration to me. They give me inspiration to
keep going.”
Kopetz was rushing into work during a downpour and
slipped and fell, landing on his left shoulder. Doctors confirmed he had
fractured his arm. After seeking treatment, Kopetz drove himself home.
Although
he and his family didn’t know it at the time, a blood clot had formed
in his arm, traveled to his chest and then into each side of his brain
stem causing a stroke. His parents, Melody and John Kopetz, went to
visit him.
“By the time we got there, he had lost his vision. He
was not able to speak or function or move,” said Melody Kopetz, adding
that the family thought he was dehydrated and nursed him at home for two
days before taking him back to the hospital.
“As we know now, you
have a window of only six hours to get medical help,” said Melody
Kopetz, adding that her son had to re-learn everything from how to walk
and talk to how to eat.
“The best analogy I can give is that it’s
like when you restart a computer and it takes a long time to re-boot.
That's how I was,” Kopetz said.
Melody Kopetz said the support group has been helpful in building community connections for the family.
“The people are really wonderful and the instructors are really great,” she said.
Vora
said that the group enjoys a variety of activities — from bowling and
bingo to holiday gatherings, bonfires and walks together. She also
coordinates guest speakers to talk about community resources and new
developments in the care of stroke patients. She said that while group
members are open about sharing their stories with new members, many
long-time members really enjoy having fun together.
“They’ve been
through this process, seen multiple doctors and rehab specialists. They
have heard about stroke over and over and over,” said Vora. “They want a
space to just be themselves without any judgement and have some fun
activities.”
Symptoms of a stroke include weakness/numbness of the
face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion,
trouble speaking, or understanding; trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
sudden trouble walking; dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and
sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Vora noted that the
brain controls many functions including vision, speech, movement,
thinking, reasoning and understanding. A stroke can cause damage to the
brain tissue, which can affect one's ability to talk, move, walk, think,
or swallow. Because of this, stroke is a leading cause of serious
long-term disability.
To reduce the risk of stroke, Vora suggested
eating a healthy diet, controlling diabetes, monitoring blood pressure,
exercising and quitting smoking and alcohol.
The stroke support group is open to all stroke survivors and caregivers. For more information, email jvora@valleyhealthlink.com or call 540-635-0730.
I found zero comfort in stroke support groups, they were mainly about whining. If your hospital has one; IT MEANS THEY ARE A COMPLETE FUCKING FAILURE AT GETTING YOU 100% RECOVERED! They don't deserve to exist at all for such incompetence!
Trauma
comes in many forms, and sometimes, what we need is a tight-knit
community of those with whom we can all relate. That is where Michelle
Lang has those individuals covered.
Lang
leads the Stroke & Brain Injury Support Group at the M Fairview
Health Clinic in Wyoming, which meets on the first Saturday of each
month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The group, founded by Lang for those
recovering from different forms of brain trauma, is one she describes as
a safe environment for attendees to open up and discuss their
struggles.
“I think everyone feels very comfortable with each other there,” said Lang. “We are all a family. We’re all very close.”
The
group’s origins are rooted in Lang’s own history of brain trauma
following a stroke in April 2023. “I spent about a month in acute
rehab,” she explained. “I was in a wheelchair to begin with.
“I
was also with a walker and a cane, so I worked my butt off to get to
where I was. Eventually, I found that when I went to an exercise class,
it made me realize how much in friendships I had lost as a result of the
stroke. People don’t know what to say or what to do, so it’s easier for
them to walk away or just ignore the whole situation.”
In
finding a location to hold group meetings, Lang chose the M Fairview
Health Clinic in Wyoming due to its proximity to her residence (Chisago
City) and its familiarity. “The closest groups were either up in Duluth
or down to the cities,” she said. “I think that a lot of it was because I
was there all the time, too. I talked with the administration, and they
were willing to give the space free of charge. It seemed like a natural
choice.”
Enlisting
the help of her daughter, Anna, to create and spread group flyers, Lang
began hosting the first meeting in December of that year. Though
attendance was initially minimal, participation steadily increased
through Facebook and different neighborhood group websites. By May 2024,
the group had 31 members from cities including Hugo and Forest Lake.
Among
the first few who joined were Hugo couple Marie and Dennis Knieff.
Dennis had previously suffered a malformation-induced brain bleed in
2022, which required emergency surgery. “We’d been coming here for
occupational and physical therapy,” said Marie. “I was a little
apprehensive just because I’ve never done anything like this, but when I
got to know Michelle, it felt like going to your neighbor’s house. She
kept us grounded and positive, and it just felt really at home. It’s
nice to know it’s getting bigger and bigger all the time.”
After
previous groups closed due to COVID-19, Forest Lake couple Carolyn and
Douglas Schulette found Lang. “As soon as the pandemic came, it left
us,” said Carolyn, who had attended a St. Paul-based brain tumor support
group with Douglas. “When I saw another group that had to do with brain
functioning, I thought it would be a good one to have some other people
that he (Douglas) could relate to.”
The
group has featured a number of notable guest speakers at certain group
meetings. Among them is Dr. Haitham Hussein, a neurologist with M Health
Fairview and the University of Minnesota Medical School, whom Lang
herself has seen as a patient.
“There’s
a lot of work that goes into starting a support group like that,” said
Hussein, “sustaining and keeping it going. Michelle really
single-handedly did that. It isn’t just that she had the motivation; she
also had the perseverance to find resources and figure out how to keep
things going.”
In
his role as guest speaker, Hussein said that his goal is not to discuss
any one single topic but to see it as an opportunity to spend time with
individual stroke/brain injury survivors. “I get to learn more about
their everyday struggles beyond the medical aspects,” explained Hussein,
“which tends to be the focus when they come to the clinic. In the
medical field, we have tools to measure stroke recovery developed based
on the doctor’s opinion about what is helpful for a person surviving a
stroke. But there is a different point of view when you hear the
patient.”
Hussein
said that spending this time helped him understand more about himself
as a doctor and the group members’ recovery process. “For example, we
think that if someone is able to walk, that’s good,” said Hussein. “But
maybe you hear from the patient, ‘No, that’s not good enough because I
want to be more independent or I want to go back to riding my bike.’
“Sometimes,
what is important for stroke survivors and their caregivers might not
be what a doctor is looking for or what the medical community thinks is a
good or bad outcome,” Hussein said. “I also learned from the stroke
survivors, when they go to a rehab facility, what ones are good and what
are not very good. We can find, for example, more sophisticated
therapists to help people recover from stroke in urban settings versus
rural settings. It is helpful for me to be in these meetings so I can
understand the everyday struggles at home with stroke recovery.
“I
am grateful to this support group for inviting me and me to go multiple
times. That has always been a fun and lovely experience for me.”
The
next group meeting will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 1, at
the M Health Fairview Clinic, 5200 Fairview Blvd., Wyoming. To learn
more about stroke symptoms and treatments, visit the American Stroke
Association website at www.stroke.org/en/.
Which means these hospitals are complete
failures at getting stroke survivors 100% recovered! This is a negative,
NOT a positive view of these hospitals! Stroke
hospitals that require setting up a stroke support group ARE COMPLETE
FUCKING FAILURES AT GETTING SURVIVORS 100% RECOVERED.
Send me hate mail on this:
oc1dean@gmail.com. I'll print your complete statement with your name and my
response in my blog. Or are you afraid to engage with my stroke-addled
mind? Your patients need an explanation of why you aren't working on 100% recovery protocols.
Why isn't your doctor solving stroke?
Laziness? Incompetence? Or just don't care? NO leadership? NO strategy? Not my job? Not my Problem?
SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM’S STROKE
SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS OF PROVIDING ENCOURAGEMENT
AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL STROKE SURVIVORS
Since 2019, the group has
provided a supportive environment for stroke survivors, their families
and caregivers to take part in educational activities to help them with
their recovery, as well as share their experiences with and motivate
fellow members
A stroke is a life-changing incident that can leave a person feeling
extremely isolated. While friends and family can be empathetic, having
the support of someone who has endured a similar experience can make all
the difference.
In the United States, there are more than 1,800 stroke support
groups,(WOW! That's a lot of hospital failure!) per the American Stroke Association, each providing essential
education, support, hope and encouragement for survivors and their loved
ones as they navigate their individual path to recovery.
Ultimately, the goal of these groups is to help eliminate feelings of
depression, hopelessness and loneliness after a stroke by reducing
isolation, providing coping mechanisms, alleviating stress and offering a
platform for the sharing of experiences with one another.
For the last five years, stroke survivors in the Rio Grande Valley –
including Winter Texans who make their home in the four-county region
during the winter months – have been able to receive support from the
South Texas Health System Stroke Survivors Support Group, which is
handled by the healthcare system’s outpatient rehabilitation centers at
STHS McAllen and STHS Edinburg.
“Having a stroke is traumatic due to the sudden and life-altering
nature of the medical emergency,” says Sophia Alton, PTA, STHS
Outpatient Rehabilitation Center McAllen, who established the group.
“Our support group provides a safe space for stroke survivors to receive
ongoing education vital to their recovery.”
During their monthly meetings, STHS staff provide invaluable
education and significant emotional support to help significantly
improve the physical and mental well-being and overall quality of life
of the group’s members while empowering them, including those who may
feel lost or uncertain about how to move forward, to remain positive and
stay the course on their road to recovery.
“They’re able to share their own personal experiences and receive the
emotional support they need, especially when they’re feeling isolated
or frustrated with their progress,” says Alton. “It’s helpful to know
they’re not alone and that, while the road to recovery isn’t always
linear, it does get better.”
It’s the social support provided by STHS Stroke Survivors Support
Group, which has allowed lasting friendships to form among members, that
kept Carrie Heim coming back time and time again.
“These people have been here for me providing emotional support and
encouragement when I was at my lowest,” says Heim, a hemorrhagic stroke
survivor who has been a member of the group since its inception in 2019.
“From one moment to the next, my life was in danger, and I had to
undergo surgery to stop the bleeding in my brain. For 10 days, no one
knew if I’d survive.”
But Carrie would pull through. Following her life-threatening ordeal,
she would go on to attend an STHS Stroke Survivors Support Group
meeting to help forge through a health situation few of her loved ones
could comprehend.
“As soon as I walked into the room, I encountered other people like
me who’d gone through the same situation and I instantly realized that
we were all in it together,” says Carrie, a Winter Texan who never
misses a meeting during her time in the Valley. “We’ve become a family,
and I wouldn’t miss this for the world because it is just so important.”
When the STHS Stroke Survivors Support Group was established, it
consisted of only about 10 stroke survivors and caregivers. Today, the
group has grown to 40 members, all connecting with others who understand
their experiences and share their challenges.
“It’s hard to believe what began as a simple idea has blossomed into
something so beautiful,” says Alton, who was inspired to launch the
group after working a stroke patient who talked about feeling like less
of a man because he couldn’t care for his wife the way he used to. “So,
to help our patients combat those negative feelings that arise after
experiencing a life-altering medical emergency, I threw out the idea of
launching a support group for stroke survivors, which my coworkers
supported. We had no idea how to start the group; we just felt this
strong desire to help our patients!”
Since then, the STHS Stroke Survivors Support Group has helped
hundreds of stroke survivors like Carrie, as well as the family members
and caregivers of stroke patients, improve their quality of life through
education, emotional support and community-building. It’s
life-improving assistance the STHS Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
teams at STHS McAllen and STHS Edinburg plan to offer the people of the
Rio Grande Valley for years to come.
The STHS Stroke Survivors Support Group meets every second Tuesday of
the month, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., at the STHS Edinburg Outpatient
Rehabilitation Center, located at 1800 S. 5 Street, Suite B in McAllen.
Additionally, the support group has a private Facebook page for members. For more information, contact Sophia Alton at 956-971-5728 or Sophia.alton@uhsrgv.com or visit the STHS McAllen website at https://www.sthsmcallen.com/stroke-support-group.
Just proof that this hospital IS A COMPLETE FUCKING FAILURE AT GETTING STROKE SURVIVORS 100% RECOVERED! That is the only goal in stroke, there are no valid excuses not to get there.
A hospital has set up a support group
to help people who have experienced a stroke to get advice, share
experiences and make new friendships with other stroke survivors.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Community Stroke Team set up the Lambeth Stroke Peer Support Group in March, with sessions running every other week for 10 weeks.
Participants get advice on how to
prevent further strokes, the importance of family and friends and
maintaining links with the community, exercise and diet, managing mood
and fatigue, and the importance of fun and joy after a stroke.
Steve Ridley, 52 from Streatham,
had a stroke in July 2022, while working from home. After being taken
to hospital, Mr Ridley was found to have extremely high blood pressure
and a bleed on the left hand side of the brain.
He received six months of hospital
treatment followed by intensive rehabilitation, and support from the
community therapists at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Pulross Centre.
The stroke has affected his speech,
and the right side of his body including arm, hand and leg. Steve now
also walks with a stick.
Speaking about the support group, Mr
Ridley said: “Before the stroke, I had always been a very talkative
person, always the one who would stand up to speak.
“Sometimes I struggle to explain to
people why I’m a bit slow in my speech or forget things. But with the
group you realise you are not the only one out there. You are not on
your own.”
Life after a stroke can bring many
challenges including physical problems, financial difficulties and
feelings of loneliness and isolation. The Lambeth Stroke Peer Support Group aims to bridge the gap after hospital treatment and rehabilitation support ends.
Lolly Short, the Stroke Care Advisor
at Guy’s and St Thomas’, who runs the group, said: “The group start to
feel like they belong by meeting other people who are feeling exactly
the same.
“They feel understood and heard.”
To find out about the Lambeth Stroke Peer Support Group, email: gst-tr.lambethstrokecareadvisor@nhs.net or call 07824 600243.
Pictured top: Agnieszka and Steve Ridley (Picture: Guy’s and St Thomas’)
Which means these hospitals are complete failures at getting stroke survivors 100% recovered! This is a negative, NOT a positive view of these hospitals! Stroke hospitals that require setting up a stroke support group ARE COMPLETE FUCKING FAILURES AT GETTING SURVIVORS 100% RECOVERED.
Send me hate mail on this:
oc1dean@gmail.com. I'll print your complete statement with your name and my
response in my blog. Or are you afraid to engage with my stroke-addled
mind? Your patients need an explanation of why you aren't working on 100% recovery protocols.
Why isn't your doctor solving stroke?
Laziness? Incompetence? Or just don't care? NO leadership? NO strategy? Not my job? Not my Problem?
You've had a stroke. Now what? HCA Florida Englewood and Fawcett
Hospitals are excited to host a monthly support group for stroke
survivors and caregivers. As you navigate your post-stroke journey, the
support group offers more than just resources and information. It's a
place where you can find new friends, support, hope, and most
importantly, emotional support. The group is designed to help you with
your unique challenges, offering warmth and acceptance. Recovering from a
stroke can be difficult to navigate. One in four who have suffered a
stroke is at a higher risk of a second stroke. The good news is that
with education and lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and
exercise, you can take steps toward prevention. If you notice someone
showing signs of a stroke, such as face drooping, arm weakness, or
speech difficulty, it's crucial not to delay care. Immediate medical
intervention is necessary to halt a stroke and prevent extensive brain
damage. The sooner treatment is given, the more brain cells can be
saved, leading to a better long-term outcome. The group meets on the
last Friday of each month. The next session will be held on Friday,
September 27, at the HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital Community Center, 3280
North Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte. HCA Florida Englewood is a
primary stroke center and Fawcett Hospital is a comprehensive stroke
center. Both hospitals have earned the prestigious 2024 Get With The
Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus award from the American Heart Association
and are proud to be part of HCA Healthcare and the HCA Healthcare
Foundation’s national sponsorship of the American Heart Association’s
Together to End Stroke® campaign.
CMMC was recently awarded the Montana
Rural Healthcare Performance Improvement Network’s Quality Improvement
Award for its work on The Mission: Lifeline Stroke Recognition program,
as well as the new Stroke Support Group CMMC Therapy and Rehab started
earlier this year.
The
Montana Rural Healthcare Performance Improvement Network (PIN) is a
voluntary membership of 50 critical access hospitals throughout the
state. Through this Network, member hospitals are able to benchmark
their performance with their peers on a variety of financial,
utilization and direct patient care measures that encourage safe,
effective, patient-centered care delivery in even the most remote
communities of the state. PIN quality of care measures are based on
national benchmarks, but are tailored to reflect the realities of the
state’s rural population.
CMMC
has demonstrated a commitment to its community and the region it serves
through its involvement with the MT Rural Healthcare PIN. Throughout
the last year, PIN members focused on four core improvement areas;
patient satisfaction and engagement, transitions of care from the
emergency room, emergency room stay times, assessment and provision of
influenza immunizations for inpatients, and influenza immunizations for
healthcare workers.
Award
winners are required to demonstrate measurable improvement in one of
the previously mentioned quality of care focus areas over the previous
year and show consistent participation in the PIN’s data programs.
Applicants are also required to demonstrate an active and leading role
in supporting PIN quality improvement efforts by participating in PIN
events and sharing with peers throughout the state.
Over sixty members attended a 25th anniversary party for Mid Ulster Stroke Survivors Group last Tuesday
Mid Ulster Stroke Group celebrate 25 years
Aoife McManus
03 Jul 2024 12:48 PM
Email:
aoife.mcmanus@iconicnews.ie
Over sixty members attended a 25th anniversary
party for Mid Ulster Stroke Survivors Group last Tuesday. Among those
attending the celebration in the Assembly Rooms of First Presbyterian
Church Cookstown were Mid Ulster District Council Chairman Councillor
Eugene McConnell and Chief Executive Adrian McCreesh, and
representatives of the Stroke Association. Founder member Mary Convery
and current Chairperson received a certificate of appreciation and a
bouquet for all her hard work.
An anniversary cake was cut by
founder members Derek Short and Mary Convery, this was followed by a
delicious lunch served by Joanne Loughrin.
ADVERTISEMENT
South Derry woman Mary Convery was there at the group’s formation 25 years ago and has watched its growth over the years.
Mary, who was working
in nursing home Milesian Manor in Magherafelt, was contacted by the in
house speech and language therapist about setting up a stroke support
group.
It all started when Mary was put in contact with a young man in his 40s who had fallen out of his lorry.
He had brain damage and his speech was affected.
“It was sad seeing a
younger man struggling. He often got frustrated that he couldn’t do what
older members of the groups were able to do,” Mary said.
From then on Mary
started taking local people who had suffered a stroke to the group in
Cookstown. The stroke survivors group meet every Tuesday in the First
Presbyterian Church, Cookstown. At the moment there are 23 members.
The members' ages range from early 40s to 80s.
The group covers Maghera, Magherafelt, Cookstown and all the outlying areas of Mid Ulster.
Mary continued: “The
group offers the chance for people to share their stroke story and have a
sense of community. It helps people not feel isolated. They will have a
cup of tea, biscuits, sandwiches and have a different programme
activity planned for each week.
“There are all
different walks of life that come to the group, from farmers to
teachers. Stoke doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone at any time.”
Reflecting on the progression of the group, Mary said she is very proud of group member Diane.
“Diane had her first stroke at 34. She won an award for young stroke survivors a few years back,” said Mary.
“It’s amazing to see
how the members progress in their time in the group. When they first
come they can be withdrawn and shy but they soon get chatting to each
other. The group is a good way to build their confidence and compare
notes on their different experiences.”
Mary said the group’s members have built lasting friendships.
“They have developed real connections and friendships and that is so important,” she added.
The Mid Ulster Stroke Survivors Group is on break for the summer now and will start up again in September.
So OhioHealth is a complete failure at getting survivors 100% recovered, as proven by the need to have a stroke support group. I'd suggest starting the whole stroke department from scratch. The board of directors is also a complete failure for not setting proper goals for the hospital; i.e. 100% recovery
MANSFIELD — Patrick Harp was given three to six hours to live upon
arriving in the emergency department at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
Harp, a 60-year-old Mansfield resident, suffered a stroke in May of
2007. He was taken to the Mansfield hospital and underwent an emergency
craniotomy.
After a three-month stay at OhioHealth, Harp returned home — accompanied by several new challenges which affect his daily life.
Harp has severe aphasia, a language disorder caused by damage to his
brain. He’s lost peripheral vision in both eyes and movement of his
right arm.
Despite these obstacles, he’s able to move around and live with his wife Ronda and their family.
Since his stroke in 2007, Harp has gone to the OhioHealth Mansfield stroke survivor support group each month. Ronda credits some of her husband’s progress and positive attitude to the group.
The Harps encourage other stroke survivors to seek out support groups to help in their recovery.
OhioHealth Mansfield is located at 335 Glessner Ave. (Credit: OhioHealth Mansfield) Credit: OhioHealth Mansfield
Harp remains ‘happy-go-lucky’
Life as Patrick knew it changed following his stroke. His faith and “happy-go-lucky” attitude have allowed him to persevere.
“It’s a long road,” he said in regards to the recovery process.
Patrick enjoys riding his recumbent trike, a three-wheel bike with a
laid-back seat, as well as woodworking — creating items such as
ornaments, tables and wine racks, among others.
He’s also made connections with other stroke survivors by attending OhioHealth Mansfield’s support group for nearly 20 years.
Ronda said she and her husband learned about the group during Patrick’s inpatient rehab.
The group meets on the second Friday of each month from 1 to 2 p.m.
at the Mansfield hospital, 335 Glessner Ave. It includes a variety of
events such as dining-out socials, game nights, local tours and featured
speakers, among others.
Its members are the reason the Harps said they’ve continued to attend over the years.
“We like to keep up with what’s going on with them, what improvements
they’ve seen and what tips they might have,” Ronda said, adding Patrick
enjoys trying to encourage other survivors.
Furthermore, she said the group will occasionally split to allow
survivors and caregivers a chance to converse without the other, as well
as share challenges.
Survivor group supports physical, mental health
Stroke recovery demands determination from patients both physically and mentally.
Offering a chance to speak with others battling similar obstacles,
the support group has supported Patrick from falling into “depression
mode.”
The Harps agreed surrounding themselves with other survivors and caregivers has provided a productive emotional resource.
Survivors feel comfortable sharing stories about the ups-and-downs of their recovery, which the couple agreed has been helpful.
They’ve also attended several stroke camps, which take place in states around the country and allow survivors and caregivers to network even further.
“We just find things on the internet and think ‘Oh, well, let’s gather with more people that are like us,'” Ronda said.
She added a piece of advice for families experiencing unique challenges which accompany life after a stroke.
“Just don’t stay in the house in front of the TV,” Ronda said. “Just get out and try the community things.”
Certified primary stroke care center
Gubert Tan, neurologist and stroke medical director at OhioHealth
Mansfield, said strokes are a leading cause of disability in the United
States.
He added the Mansfield hospital is the area’s only certified primary stroke care center.
“We try to do our best,” Tan said. “We get our certification renewed
after several years and we constantly do that to provide excellence in
stroke care.”
Educating patients and the community about the warning signs of strokes is a critical aspect of stroke care, he explained.
OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital is a certified primary stroke care center. Credit: Hayden Gray
The acronym “BE FAST” — balance issues, eyesight changes, facial
weakness, arm weakness, speech difficulty and time to call 911 — serves
as a reminder of stroke signs and symptoms, as well as when to seek
medical assistance.
“That’s what we try to encourage patients to learn,” Tan said. “When
they come to the hospital, part of the treatment is education.”
A variety of preventative therapies are available at the stroke care
center, including medication, physical therapy, gyms and rehabilitation
practices. The ward also features a 14-bed inpatient rehab unit.
After patients leave the hospital, Tan said they communicate with
OhioHealth Mansfield’s stroke clinic to follow up with nurse
practitioners and vascular neurologists.
Support group is for patients, caregivers
Recovering from a stroke can be a lengthy, challenging and stressful process for both the patient and their caregivers.
Tan said resources available at the Mansfield Hospital, such as the
support group and educational classes, are meant to help and serve
patients and their support system.
“It’s continued care. From education to acute care, to rehabilitation
and the support group,” he said. “It’s more for the patient and more
for the family, too, for the caregiver, because sometimes the stress
level is in the patient, but also the caregiver.”
