Stroke Survivor Kit for young and midlife patients available

Posted on: 11/30/16

Too young to have a stroke? Think again. With one in five strokes occurring between the ages of 20-55 years of age, more younger stroke survivors are faced with the life-altering challenges that can occur with a stroke. These survivors (and their families) can face a unique set of challenges and needs.  

Having experienced stroke at a younger age when most survivors are employed and building their career, these individuals may be raising a family and living very full and productive lives when they suddenly find themselves faced with the loss of their livelihood (including their income and possibly their health care insurance), as well as their independence and life as they knew it. In addition, they may now experience different needs than older, perhaps retired, stroke survivors, such as being able to return to work, retraining for new employment, relearning such  familiar skills as driving, as well as finding the resources to assist with this “new normal” daily life.

Some experience the additional stress of losing their health care coverage and rehabilitation (if provided through their employment). Other unique challenges include the loss of control and self-efficacy; changes in family life (roles, functions, and independence), loss of potential income and employment, as well as the uncertainties of living with stroke long term.

In an effort to help address some of these concerns, members of the Oklahoma State Stroke Systems Advisory Committee (OSSSAC) have developed an education and resource packet called the “Young and Midlife Stroke Survivor Kit.”  This resource packet can be easily downloaded, saved to a computer, and then printed out for survivors and their families during their hospital or rehabilitation stay, or at discharge.

Authors Dr. Janet Spradlin, rehabilitation psychologist with St. Anthony Hospital, and Mary Pinzon, RN, stroke education nurse for INTEGRIS Health, encourage sharing this information by case managers, discharge planners, and all therapists as they care for their stroke patients. The file can be saved for future reference, and then printed out as needed.  

As this is the initial version of this resource document, Dr. Spradlin and Pinzon request relevant feedback from  providers in order to help determine if additional information or resources can be added or are needed. Their contact information for this feedback is: [email protected] and [email protected].

Each hospital, rehabilitation facility or institution is welcome to reformat the document, including logos, to make place for their own brand on the handouts.

To access the document, click here. (LaWanna Halstead)