My Stroke Information The physical and mental condition of the 1.2 million stroke survivors living in the UK today can vary greatly from person-to-person. But no matter what stage you’re at in your recovery there are steps you can take to improve your health and quality of life. Below are some things you might want to consider and how Think Ahead Stroke can help. Day one: Leaving hospital For most stroke survivors the day you leave hospital will feel like the toughest day of your recovery as you face up to the new realities of life, hopefully with the support of family and friends. It’s at this critical stage that expert help and advice can have the biggest positive impact by reducing the feelings of stress anxiety caused by feeling alone or abandoned’ Think Ahead Stroke can offer immediate: Friendship from an understanding face when you need it the most Know-how, practical advice & tips Health & wellbeing support to grow confidence & independence Remember, the hospital may save your live, but putting it back together can be a much longer, more complicated process requiring all the help and support you can get your hands on. The sooner you get in touch the quicker we can help, so call Think Ahead on 01942 824 888 and let’s get there together! Practical things Many of the most pressing challenges when living with stroke are every day and practical, and this is where accessing knowledge from those who have been there before can save time, money and frustration. Remember: thousands of people have faced these challenges before you, so you’re definitely not alone. Think Ahead Stroke can help you with practical advice in the following areas: Transport & getting around It is common for stroke survivors to struggle with reduced mobility, particularly at first. Driving isn’t permitted for at least a month after stroke, and public transport and getting in and out of cars can be difficult. Advice is available on things like car adaptions, blue badge schemes, shop mobility and public transport vouchers. For more detailed information please get in touch or click here House & home You may need to adapt your home so you can get around it safely, particularly as you learn to live with your stroke and any subsequent disabilities. This may involve rearranging furniture, adapting bathroom doors or installing sturdy bannisters or new handrails. Some of these changes of course cost money, and you may be eligible for financial assistance to cover or go towards getting essential work done. Think Ahead Stroke can help you work out what changes need to be made and how to access information on funding. For more information please call today or click here Money and finances The world doesn’t stop for you once you’ve have a stroke. You may still have rent or a mortgage to pay plus other financial commitments and bills co cover each month. So if you can’t work or have reduced income how can you make ends meet? You may also need help to cover the cost of care and home adaptations. Most people who have had a stroke will be entitled to some sort of income, either sick pay from their employer or disability payments from the government. However, the benefits system is complicated, and the claims process can be difficult, so once again contact Think Ahead Stroke so they can help you navigate it, or for more detailed information click here Getting out-and-about again It might not feel like it at first, but your life doesn’t end after a stroke! Getting out, meeting new people and having some fun really is as important to rehabilitation and recovery as medication and physical treatment. Meeting new people with a shared experience is also useful and reassuring. However, the challenge can be finding, accessing and getting to activities that are right for stroke survivors – and having the motivation and confidence to get out there again. Think Ahead Stroke understands all the physical and mental barriers that stroke survivors can face, and we’ve spend years creating environments that suit people at different stages of recovery. We have a number of group welfare and wellbeing sessions (listed on this website), plus a carefully selected range of groups and activities. These take into consideration key aspects such as transport, mobility and other possible disabilities. All of our activities and groups are also designed for stroke survivors and carers, so they can be experienced together. To discover what is available please click here