A guide explaining the levels of care and support people can expect after they have had a stroke has been published today by Stroke Association to coincide with the launch of the UK’s first Action on Stroke Month – May 2012.
The Stroke Survivors’ Declaration has been created for stroke survivors by stroke survivors and carers to give guidance on how to navigate the health, social care and welfare systems and what to do if the individual’s needs are not being met. The Declaration comes hot on the heels of the charity’s recent report, Struggling to recover, that showed many people were still struggling to navigate the system that was meant to support them, preventing them from making their best possible recovery.
The Stroke Survivors’ Declaration contains 16 points about what stroke survivors can expect, including:
- to not be afraid to ask for specialist support on returning home from hospital which should be highlighted in a discharge plan. Many stroke survivors and their families were not even aware of this entitlement
- to have their carers needs assessed and recognised. Many families and carers reported having to take responsibility for coordinating care without support
- to make personal choices about individual care and support. This must be taken into consideration if survivors are to make their best possible recovery
The charity’s Life After Stroke campaign calls for:
- The NHS and local authorities to follow national policy and ensure all stroke survivors have their health and social care needs assessed and regularly reviewed in order to prevent crisis admissions to care homes and hospitals
- Improved coordination of health and social care services so that stroke survivors and carers can better manage their life after stroke
- Better training for all those professionals working in social care who come into contact with stroke survivors to better understand stroke and its impact
The Stroke Survivors’ Declaration is available to download from www.stroke.org.uk/campaigns or by calling Stroke Association on 01604 687 724.
