We are the Stroke Association We are the Stroke Association Information about our charity and how we can support you We’re for life after stroke Need to talk? Call our confidential Stroke Helpline on 0303 3033 100. You may also find our other leaflets helpful. • What is a stroke? • How to prevent a stroke • When a stroke happens • Life after stroke • The road to recovery We also have lots more useful information. To order leaflets and factsheets, or to find out more about stroke, please call 0303 3033 100, email [email protected] or visit us at stroke.org.uk. We are a charity. We rely on your support to change lives. Produced by the Stroke Association’s Information Service. To see which references we have used, visit stroke.org.uk. Please call us on 0115 871 3949 or email [email protected] if you are unhappy with us in any way. We will happily discuss any issues and help sort them out. The Stroke Association is registered as a charity in England and Wales (No 211015) and in Scotland (SC037789). Also registered in Northern Ireland (XT33805), Isle of Man (No 945) and Jersey (NPO 369). 2 Stroke Association Introduction We understand that having a stroke can "I’d say to anyone be devastating. You may feel frightened, in my situation that confused and isolated, whether it’s they should not panic happened to you or someone close to you. and take the support offered. Don’t think We’re here to support you with your your life is over if you recovery. Whether you need support in the have a stroke." early days or you face challenges later on, we can help you and your family deal with the Claire, stroke survivor changes caused by a stroke. Contents • Information and support – page 4 • Our services – page 6 • Stroke clubs – page 10 • Life After Stroke Grants – page 11 • Research – page 12 • Taking action on stroke – page 13 • How you can help – page 14 We are the Stroke Association 3 Information and support "It’s great to be If you have had a stroke, or have been able to provide a affected by stroke in any way, you will have service that really many questions about what has happened makes a difference and what is likely to happen in the future. You to people affected may need practical information or simply by stroke. Our someone to talk to. callers really value the information and Stroke Helpline support we give We will listen to you and answer any them." questions you have. We can help to explain what causes a stroke, how you can prevent Stroke Helpline Manager a stroke happening again, and the different effects a stroke can have. We can give you practical information about how to cope after a stroke, and how to get the help and support you need. Anything we talk about will be in confidence. We can also tell you about local services and stroke clubs, and help you find other support services in your area. How to contact us • Call our helpline on 0303 3033 100. • If you use a textphone, please dial 18001 0303 3033 100. 4 Stroke Association • We use Language Line, which lets you call Did you know we the Stroke Helpline using a free interpreting offer a range of service if English is not your first language. useful products • Email us at [email protected]. for people who • Write to us at Stroke Information Service, have had a stroke, Life after Stroke Centre, Church Lane, such as mobility Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 8RA. aids, insurance and personal alarms? Our website Lots of useful information and advice Visit our website about stroke is available on our website at stroke.org.uk/ at stroke.org.uk. support/partners to see the full range, or • Read and download all our leaflets and call our helpline for factsheets free of charge. more information. • Join TalkStroke – our online discussion forum for all people affected by stroke. • Read or listen to other people’s experiences of stroke. Stroke News We produce a free magazine called Stroke News every four months, containing useful information about stroke and our work. To subscribe, fill in the form at the end of this leaflet or [email protected] . We are the Stroke Association 5 Our services We understand Our Life After Stroke Services how a stroke can Our services are here to help you achieve change your world your goals after a stroke and support you overnight. We're along the way. here to help you cope with the aftermath Information, Advice and Support Service of stroke. Your first contact with us will probably be with one of our information, advice and support co-ordinators (sometimes called family and carer support co-ordinators). They regularly visit hospital wards, or you may be referred to one by hospital staff. This service helps you and your family prepare for the changes that happen because of a stroke. They provide you with information about stroke, practical advice and emotional support. 6 Stroke Association How we can help "Being a carer can Our information, advice and support be incredibly hard. co-ordinators might visit you in hospital and Talking to other make home visits afterwards. They look at people in a similar your needs and those of your family, and may: situation helps enormously." • help you understand the effects of your stroke Christine, carer • tell you how you can get help from health services, social services and voluntary organisations • put you in touch with local groups and services, stroke clubs or carers' groups • help you get financial support, and • arrange for our trained volunteers to make further visits. They can also refer you to our other services. Communication Support Service About a third of people who have had a stroke have some difficulty with speaking, reading or writing. This is called aphasia. If you can’t express your needs, wishes and feelings properly, this can affect your morale, slow down your rehabilitation and be frustrating for you and those close to you. We are the Stroke Association 7 Our services "I couldn’t move my Our Communication Support Service can help right side, and my you cope with aphasia. Our co-ordinators and speech had gone. I volunteers can work with you to build up your could read perfectly confidence and help you achieve your best but I couldn’t say possible recovery. even a simple word like ‘coffee’." You might be referred to the service by a speech and language therapist, your doctor, David, stroke survivor or you can also refer yourself. Our co-ordinator will visit you and your family to assess your needs, find out about your goals and agree with you what you need to do to achieve them. Our service can help you rebuild your communication skills through practising your speaking, reading and writing skills – depending on your goals. This may be through workshops with other people who have had a stroke or regular home visits. 8 Stroke Association Other services are available in some areas. If we don’t have a service in your area, • Stroke Prevention can support you to contact our helpline. change your way of life and reduce your We can tell you risk of having a stroke, by offering help and about other sources advice on things such as diet and exercise. of help near you. • Re-ablement and Social Inclusion can help you to adjust to life after your stroke by offering a range of services from art therapy to support for younger people, or by helping you return to work. • Carer Support provides information, advice, group support and training for carers. How do I contact your services? You may be referred to our services by hospital staff, your GP or a social worker. If not, you can contact us directly to see if we offer services in your area by phoning 0303 3033 100. Our services are free for people who have had a stroke and their families as they are paid for by local health or social services. Unfortunately, not all authorities pay for our services, so they are only available in certain areas of England, Northern Ireland and Wales. We are the Stroke Association 9 Stroke clubs Stroke clubs and Stroke clubs provide an opportunity for groups provide people who are affected by stroke to get valuable practical together. Many clubs are open to people who and social support. have had strokes and their carers, while others They can build your support people with specific needs such as confidence and help communication difficulties. you to recover. By getting together, members have the To find out if there is chance to share experiences with people who a stroke club understand what they are going through, and near you: to take part in activities that can help with their ongoing recovery. Most of all, clubs offer • call our helpline vital social support and boost your confidence on 0303 3033 100 to help you get on with life after your stroke. • look for notices in your local Clubs are usually run by volunteers and regular doctor’s surgery meetings are held in community centres and or library, or halls. Each club is different, but most offer • ask your GP, activities. These can include everything from social worker or speakers, outings and art classes through to health visitor. practising communication skills and exercise sessions. 10 Stroke Association Life After Stroke Grants Financial help can make a crucial difference at "I am really grateful times of great difficulty and uncertainty.