Improving services for younger stroke survivors and their families
Improving services for younger stroke survivors and their families
Improving services for younger stroke survivors and their families
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Recommendations – Inpatient stay• Where possible all patients should be treated on a specialist <strong>stroke</strong> unit as recommendedin the Coronary Heart Disease <strong>and</strong> Stroke Strategy <strong>for</strong> Scotl<strong>and</strong> 5• Where <strong>younger</strong> <strong>stroke</strong> patients are treated in wards with a mixed age profile, healthprofessionals should be aware that being treated in close proximity to very elderlypatients is a major concern <strong>for</strong> <strong>younger</strong> people experiencing a <strong>stroke</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>families</strong>.Patients <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>families</strong> should be in<strong>for</strong>med, in a sensitive manner, that the best carecan be provided by admission to a <strong>stroke</strong> unit that caters <strong>for</strong> patients of all ages.•YSS should have access to all members of a multi-disciplinary team including speech <strong>and</strong>language therapy <strong>and</strong> clinical psychology where indicated.•Attention should be paid to st<strong>and</strong>ardising the role of <strong>stroke</strong> nurses, which should includeliaising with <strong>and</strong> acting as a contact <strong>for</strong> <strong>families</strong>.• Relatives or carers should be kept in<strong>for</strong>med of progress <strong>and</strong> plans <strong>for</strong> furtherinvestigations that are to be carried out.• Allied health professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, <strong>and</strong> speech<strong>and</strong> language therapists should work in partnership with patients <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>families</strong>,explaining the purpose behind specific tasks or procedures.15• Issues relating to employment should be addressed immediately post-<strong>stroke</strong>.Occupational therapists should ensure that they are aware of the previous employmentstatus of YSS in order to address possible alternatives at an early stage.• Visiting hours should be flexible in order to accommodate the needs of <strong>families</strong> withchildren visiting <strong>younger</strong> <strong>stroke</strong> patients, particularly if the patient is being treated on amixed age ward.• Relatives who have difficulty visiting during the day because of work commitments shouldbe notified of the best times <strong>and</strong> methods of contacting staff when seeking in<strong>for</strong>mationabout <strong>their</strong> relative.• Where <strong>families</strong> include children or young people <strong>stroke</strong> nurses should ascertain whetherthere are any difficulties <strong>and</strong> provide written in<strong>for</strong>mation appropriate to <strong>their</strong> age group.<strong>Improving</strong> <strong>services</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>younger</strong> <strong>stroke</strong> <strong>survivors</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>families</strong>
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