Stroke Support Group presented by RWJUH Hamilton

 

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

Stroke Support Group presented by RWJUH Hamilton

Tue., June 24, 2025

4:00 PM — 5:00 PM

RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center - Hamilton3100 Quakerbridge RoadHamilton, NJ 08619

View in Google Maps

Photo Credit: RWJUH Hamilton

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. 

Please register here.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Community Education sponsors several support groups to meet the needs of our community. For more information, call 609-584-5900 or email CommunityEdHAM@rwjbh.org.

Learn more at rwjbh.org/stroke

Contact Information

RWJUH Hamilton Community Education

609-584-5900CommunityEdHAM@rwjbh.org

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Stroke survivors, caretakers find camaraderie in support group

 

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?

Stroke survivors, caretakers find camaraderie in support group

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.

Brain injury survivors find comfort in support group

 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!

Brain injury survivors find comfort in support group

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/.

STHS celebrates five years of support to local stroke survivors

 

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?

STHS celebrates five years of support to local stroke survivors

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.

‘You realise you are not alone’: Hospital encourages stroke survivors to join 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.

‘You realise you are not alone’: Hospital encourages stroke survivors to join support group  

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’)

Area Hospitals Provide Support for Stroke Survivors and for Those Who Care for Them

 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?

Area Hospitals Provide Support for Stroke Survivors and for Those Who Care for Them

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.

Central Montana Medical Center recognized for improvement in stroke recognition and support

 If your hospital has to have a stroke support group, then it means they are a COMPLETE FUCKING FAILURE AT GETTING SURVIVORS 100% RECOVERED!

Central Montana Medical Center recognized for improvement in stroke recognition and support

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.

Mansfield stroke survivor encourages OhioHealth support group

 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 stroke survivor encourages OhioHealth support group 

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.”

National Stroke Awareness Month is recognized in the United States each May. To learn more, visit the American Stroke Association website.

UK Stroke Support groups in your area

The need to have these stroke support groups means your stroke association has completely failed at their job of getting survivors 100% recovered! Are they even working towards that goal? If not, you need to take over them and get them run by survivors.

 UK  Stroke Support groups in your area

Essentia Health hosting walk and support group for stroke survivors

Absolute proof they are a complete failure to stroke survivors. This wouldn't be needed if they were competent is 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?  Survivors would like to know why you are being so fucking incompetent that you can't get them 100% recovery! NO EXCUSES!

Essentia Health hosting walk and support group for stroke survivors

On Wednesday, May 29, Essentia Health will hold a Stroke Walk in support of local stroke survivors. This complimentary event will be held from 2-4 p.m. at the Rustad Recreation Center, located at 601 26th Ave. E. in West Fargo.

The walk is open to stroke survivors, their support network and staff that care for stroke patients. Walkers do not need to be patients of Essentia. If interested in attending, please email StrokeSupportGroup@EssentiaHealth.org.

“With May being Stroke Awareness Month, our team looks forward to hosting this walk to celebrate our stroke survivors and supporters in a fun and active way while also highlighting stroke recognition and prevention,” explained Chelsey Kuznia, stroke program manager at Essentia Health-Fargo.

For those unable to attend, a Stroke Support Group is available the following month, from 3-4 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, in Conference Room LLH253 at Essentia Health-Fargo, located at 3000 32nd Ave. S.

Held the last Thursday of every month, this support group is open to stroke survivors, family members and caregivers. It is designed to provide support, education and encouragement from others that have experienced similar life-changing events.

If interested in attending, or for questions, please call (701) 364-4509 or email StrokeSupportGroup@EssentiaHealth.org. A virtual attendance option is available.

Essentia Health-Fargo has been recertified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by DNV Healthcare USA Inc., reflecting the highest level of competency(Well, you obviously are NOT COMPETENT if you have to have a support group. Think about that!) for treatment of serious stroke events.

This certification is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association and demonstrates Essentia’s commitment to the full spectrum of stroke care(NOT CURE! More proof you are not competent) – diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education.

Learn more about risk factors and symptoms of stroke and available stroke care at EssentiaHealth.org.

OSF HealthCare offering stroke support group - Ottawa

This is a direct acknowledgement that this hospital is a complete failure at getting survivors 100% recovered. The board of directors needs to be removed. 

OSF HealthCare offering stroke support group - Ottawa

OSF HealthCare St. Elizabeth Medical Center is offering a Stroke Support Group with the first session from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, March 6.
The group provides support for people who have had a stroke, their families and friends. This informal meeting allows attendees to share experiences, solve problems they may encounter and answer questions for those who are or have been in similar circumstances.

Participants will learn about stroke recovery, rehabilitation and prevention. Also, explore resources and support available to live a satisfying life while coping with any losses and disabilities associated with stroke.
The group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. the first Friday of every month in the hospital's Meeting Room 4. No reservations are required. For questions, call Mary Yuhas, speech-language pathologist, at 815-431-5316.

Two very simple questions to determine your stroke providers competence

For your stroke hospital.

Does it have a stroke support group? If yes, that means they are completely failing at getting most survivors 100% recovered. They have accepted the tyranny of low expectations as gospel and are doing nothing to change the failed status quo.   There are NO EXCUSES ALLOWED.  They will use this fuckingly lazy statement to justify complete failure; 'All strokes are different, All stroke recoveries are different.' Laugh in their faces, rather maniacally. 'I'm supposed to accept that as your excuse for not getting me recovered?'

For your stroke doctor.

What prescriptions did your write to my therapists? OT, PT, ST?

If E.T.(Evaluate and Treat) that means your doctor knows nothing about stroke rehab, and is taking NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LACK OF RECOVERY. 

Oops, I'm not playing by the polite rules of Dale Carnegie,  'How to Win Friends and Influence People'. 

I shouldn't presume to know more than all these medically trained persons, especially since I'm not medically trained. You need zero medical training to evaluate your doctor and hospital, just common sense at looking at their results.

Politeness will never solve anything in stroke. I expect all doctors should know more about stroke than you or me. 

If this doesn't get me flamed and hate mail it means your stroke providers aren't even following stroke survivor writings to see what needs improving. Another failure point on their side.  Flame away, I will respond factually and in spades. 

Praise for stroke rehab group supporting patients at King's Mill Hospital

This is openly acknowledging that this hospital is a complete failure at getting patients 100% recovered!  'Hope' is just pushing the tyranny of low expectations. YOU need to have this hospital completely enabled with new staff. Why is your board of directors so incompetent as to allow such failure?

Praise for stroke rehab group supporting patients at King's Mill Hospital

Stroke patients at King’s Mill Hospital can now get extra support in their recovery thanks to a support group set up in the Sutton site.

The patient experience group has been set up by staff from the ward and previous stroke patients to help provide hope to both stroke survivors and their families.

Members of the stroke group meet at King's Mill Hospital.

The first meeting was held in October which was followed by the second group, held at the end of November. Both groups have been very successful and so it has been decided to now run them on a regular basis.

It has been supported by two previous patients and stroke survivors, Alex Winfield and Adam Lambert. 

Alex, 31, who had a stroke aged just 30, said: “I think the group is a really good idea, I wish there had been something like this when I first had my stroke.
“It’s really good for patients to talk to other people that have experienced something similar and see that there is life after a stroke and it is possible to come through it.
“I would encourage anyone who has suffered a stroke to come along to the support group and have a chat, as it is really good to speak to people who have been in the same situation.”
The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month for patients on Ward 53 and their families, so that they can benefit whilst they are still patients on the ward.

Sara Gent, the occupational therapist who helped set up the group, said: “We have had some really good feedback from patients about the group.
“It can be really overwhelming for patients and their family, so I think it really helps for our current patients to listen and speak to others who have had a stroke, but who have progressed and have improved through therapy and support.
“I would also like to thank my colleagues and our volunteers for helping to set up the group and continuing to support the running of it.”

How to tell if your stroke hospital is incompetent by asking one question

Do you have a stroke support group?

Having one means they have not gotten their stroke patients anywhere near to 100% recovery.

That is my definition of competency.

Three measurements will tell me if the stroke hospital is possibly not completely incompetent;

1. tPA full recovery? Better than 12%?
2. 30 day deaths? Better than competitors?
3. rehab full recovery? Better than 10%?/

Their definition is probably the tyranny of low expectations/status quo.  Or the craptastic statement; 'All strokes are different, all stroke recoveries are different.'  Or maybe that they have met the Get With the Guidelines or Joint Commission standards on stroke.  Neither of which measures results, just whether they are following processes. You can follow processes 100% and the patient dies, good for the doctor, not so good for the patients.  You can't get better at anything unless you measure it. You don't measure processes you measure results.

Whoops Dean, you are challenging all the stroke doctors and hospitals in the world. Bring it on, show me your results and then we can discuss your competency.  I'm stroke-addled so it should be easy for you to bowl me over with your results.

A Simple Way To Boost Social Confidence

You will need this post-stroke since you will lose most of your friends. Your doctor, psychologist and psychiatrist should have multiple protocols to boost your social self esteem. Or they could take the correct way out of this and get you 100% recovered in the first month so you will immediately go back to your previous life. I bet they do neither and you will have to figure this out on your own.  Or they tell you to join a stroke support group which is their way of saying they are incompetent in getting you recovered.
A Simple Way To Boost Social Confidence

An easy self-affirmation exercise helps reduce social insecurities for at least two months.

Sometimes in life we get exactly what we expect.
Nowhere is this more true than in social relations.
When we meet someone new, if we expect to like them—for whatever reason—then they tend to like us.
If we experience apprehension or nascent dislike then things can quickly go wrong.
Psychologists have called it the ‘acceptance prophecy’ and there’s more about it in this previous article: The Acceptance Prophecy: How You Control Who Likes You.
The problem is that for insecure or socially nervous individuals it becomes the rejection prophecy.
A feeling of apprehension about meeting new people is outwardly expressed as nervous behaviour and this leads to rejection.
But a new paper published in Psychological Science provides a simple exercise that helps boost relational security and should help turn the rejection prophecy back into the acceptance prophecy.

Self-affirmation

Stinson et al. (2011) measured the relational security of 117 participants by asking them how much they agreed with statements like: “My friends regard me as very important in their lives” and “My partner loves and accepts me unconditionally”.
Half of them were then asked to do a very simple self-affirmation task.
Participants looked down a list of 11 values including things like spontaneity, creativity, friends and family, personal attractiveness and so on.
They put them in order of importance and wrote a couple of paragraphs saying why their top-ranked item was so important.
The results showed that this simple task boosted the relational security of insecure individuals in comparison with a control group.
Afterwards their behaviour was seen as less nervous and they reported feeling more secure.
And when they were followed up at four and eight weeks later, the benefits were still apparent.
It appears that even a task as simple as this is enough to boost the social confidence of people who feel insecure.

Why are stroke support groups needed?

The simple reason is that your doctor has completely failed at getting you 100% recovered. They should never be necessary if your doctor, hospital and therapists were competent.