Fri, 12 Nov 2010
Lecturer to establish Norwich branch of a charity which offers support for younger stroke survivors.
A lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of East Anglia, is to establish a Norwich branch of Different Strokes, the charity which offers support for younger stroke survivors.
Wendy Dubbin, who lectures in Children's Nursing, started her initiative to set up a branch in Norwich after her husband Alan, aged 57, suffered a stroke at home. Wendy was in the fortunate position of being able to recognised the symptoms immediately and, following treatment, Alan is now on the road to gradual recovery. But Alan’s stroke highlighted the lack of support for younger stroke survivors and their families in Norwich – something which Wendy is determined to put right.
Wendy said, “Alan is recovering slowly but we found that most of the care for stroke sufferers is focused at people over 65. Strokes can leave people feeling isolated and depressed - whatever their age, and it is so important that victims and their families have others to talk to. And that’s why setting up I think setting up Different Strokes in Norwich will help.”
Professor Valerie Pomeroy, Professor of of Neurorehabilitation & Director, Health and Social Sciences Research Institute in the Faculty of Health said, “Organisations such as Different Strokes and The Stroke Association provide facilities and networks for stroke survivors and their families to help them cope with and recover from the often devastating effects of stroke. They can provide information and support which enhances the ability of people to be informed about how the brain recovers after stroke and therefore engage actively with the rehabilitation process. Such active engagement is known to aid recovery. This is particularly pertinent during the first 3-6 months after stroke when the majority of brain recovery occurs but the benefits do not stop there. Recovery, albeit more slowly, can occur later after stroke too and it is important that people do not become discouraged. Social networks provide opportunities for sharing of experience and information that can be crucial in helping stroke survivors and their families make the best use of rehabilitation resources, adjust to life after stroke even if full recovery is not possible and optimise their ability to participate in activities that are important in their lives.
Stroke is the single largest cause of disability in the United Kingdom. 10, 000 people under the age of 55 suffer a stroke every year - 1,000 of these are under the age of 30.
Wendy Dubbin, who lectures in Children's Nursing, started her initiative to set up a branch in Norwich after her husband Alan, aged 57, suffered a stroke at home. Wendy was in the fortunate position of being able to recognised the symptoms immediately and, following treatment, Alan is now on the road to gradual recovery. But Alan’s stroke highlighted the lack of support for younger stroke survivors and their families in Norwich – something which Wendy is determined to put right.
Wendy said, “Alan is recovering slowly but we found that most of the care for stroke sufferers is focused at people over 65. Strokes can leave people feeling isolated and depressed - whatever their age, and it is so important that victims and their families have others to talk to. And that’s why setting up I think setting up Different Strokes in Norwich will help.”
Professor Valerie Pomeroy, Professor of of Neurorehabilitation & Director, Health and Social Sciences Research Institute in the Faculty of Health said, “Organisations such as Different Strokes and The Stroke Association provide facilities and networks for stroke survivors and their families to help them cope with and recover from the often devastating effects of stroke. They can provide information and support which enhances the ability of people to be informed about how the brain recovers after stroke and therefore engage actively with the rehabilitation process. Such active engagement is known to aid recovery. This is particularly pertinent during the first 3-6 months after stroke when the majority of brain recovery occurs but the benefits do not stop there. Recovery, albeit more slowly, can occur later after stroke too and it is important that people do not become discouraged. Social networks provide opportunities for sharing of experience and information that can be crucial in helping stroke survivors and their families make the best use of rehabilitation resources, adjust to life after stroke even if full recovery is not possible and optimise their ability to participate in activities that are important in their lives.
Stroke is the single largest cause of disability in the United Kingdom. 10, 000 people under the age of 55 suffer a stroke every year - 1,000 of these are under the age of 30.
