Improving services for younger stroke survivors and their families

More documents

Recommendations

Info

•Younger people who have experienced a stroke should be covered by a ‘high risk groupsapproach’ to stroke prevention and health improvement (Scottish Executive, 2002), and besupported in making lifestyle changes, e.g. smoking cessation or dietary changes.•YSS and their families needing support in the community should be offered the option ofreceiving Direct Payments which would enable them to organise their own services.• The input of relatives and other supporters must be acknowledged. Health professionalsworking with families in the community should ensure that a carer’s assessment has beencarried out.Employment• Issues relating to employment should be addressed. Therapists should ensure that theyare aware of the previous employment status of YSS in order to assess possible optionsfor the future. Vocational rehabilitation consultants, disability employment advisors, andvoluntary organisations should be involved where appropriate.• Relatives or carers who were in employment at the time of the stroke but have notreturned to work should be encouraged and supported to return. Where a carer isunsure about returning to work they should be given an opportunity to discuss theiroptions with an employment adviser as well as their stroke nurse.• Where a return to employment is not anticipated for either the survivor or carer, a fullbenefit check should be carried out.Stroke nurses• Stroke nurses should provide support to carers as well as survivors, seeing them on theirown in order to identify difficulties that they may prefer not to discuss in the presence ofthe YSS.• Where families include children or young people stroke nurses should ascertain whetherthere are any difficulties. Families should be referred for support; e.g. family or individualcounselling if they are experiencing difficulty with the sudden changes associated with thestroke.Post-stroke recovery is a long-term proposition; while some level of residual physicalimpairment may have to be accepted, social adaptation is limitless. At the time of thesecond interviews, twelve to fifteen months post-discharge from hospital, a proportion ofthe YSS who took part in this study had put their stroke behind them and moved on. Forothers progress was slower; survivors and their families were still coming to terms with achanged lifestyle and in need of support, possibly for some time to come.31Improving services for younger stroke survivors and their families
References1. Kaste, M., Fogelholm, R., Rissanen,A. (1998) Economic Burden of Stroke and theEvaluation of New Therapies. Public Health. 112 (2) 103-112.2. Hochstenbach, J., Donders, R., Mulder,T.,Vanlimbeek, J., Schoonderwaldt, H. (1997) Long-Term Outcome After Stroke:A Disability-Orientated Approach. International Journal ofRehabilitation Research, 19 (3) 189-200.3. Low, J., Payne, S, Roderick, P. (1999) ‘The impact of stroke on informal carers: a literaturereview’, Social Science and Medicine, 49(6), pp. 711-725.4. Blane, D. B. (1996) Collecting Retrospective Data: Development of a Reliable Method anda Pilot Study of Its Use. Social Science and Medicine. 42 (5) 751-757.325. Scottish Executive (2002) Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Strategy for Scotland.Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.AcknowledgementsParticular thanks are due to all of the young stroke survivors, relatives and carers, andhealth professionals who participated in the study. Thanks also to the members of theSteering Group who contributed their time and expertise: Jane Arroll, Dr Duncan Booker,David Clark, Dr Hazel McHaffie, Kathleen Molloy, Professor Margaret Reid, Professor SheilaRiddell, Dr Chris Roy, Eileen Whitham.This is a summary version of the full research study, which is available from:The Strathclyde Centre for Disability ResearchAdam Smith BuildingUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowG12 8RTTel: 0141 330 4545Website: www.gla.ac.uk/centres/disabilityresearchImproving services for younger stroke survivors and their families
Page 1 and 2: Improving services foryounger strok
Page 4 and 5: In addition, however, this report a
Page 6 and 7: People who have a stroke experience
Page 8 and 9: Recognising stroke and seeking assi
Page 10 and 11: Recommendations - recognising strok
Page 12 and 13: “I think people that’s working
Page 14 and 15: wasn’t a ward for taking the kids
Page 16 and 17: Recommendations - Inpatient stay•
Page 18 and 19: e.g. physiotherapy and/or occupatio
Page 20 and 21: Recommendations - Discharge from ho
Page 22 and 23: travelling on hospital transport fa
Page 24 and 25: “I don’t know how quick he’s
Page 26 and 27: Moving onThe rate of physical progr
Page 28 and 29: Despite being prescribed anti-depre
Page 30 and 31: Impact on relationshipsOne of the m
Page 34: Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland65 No

Improving services for younger stroke survivors and their families

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?