Join us to help raise awareness about stroke and aphasia!
June is Stroke and Aphasia Awareness Month. Please take some time to learn about the signs of a stroke, what to do if someone is experiencing the signs, how to reduce the risk of a stroke and how you can help those who have been affected by stroke and aphasia.
Did you know …….. There are over 108,707 new strokes in Canada annually. That means in our communities a person has a stroke every 5 minutes. It is estimated that over 878,500 Canadians are living with the affects of stroke and that number is expected to continue to rise.
A stroke is a medical emergency! Call 911 immediately and act FAST if you witness a person having any of these key signs: Face is drooping, Arm weakness, Speech is slurred. Time is important as brain damage can occur very quickly. The paramedics can safely transport the person to the most appropriate hospital that offers specialized treatment for stroke.
Stroke is ……… Sometimes called a "brain attack". A stroke occurs when the blood flow to any part of the brain is interrupted or stopped. Each person is affected differently by a stroke depending on what part of the brain was impacted and the amount of damage. A stroke can result in, challenges with movement, communication, thinking, vision, fatigue, emotions and how we understand the world around us. Learn about both the invisible and visible effects from stroke and how you can help to support a stroke survivor and their family when they return to the community.
Aphasia is ……… A communication and language disorder. It does not affect intelligence! Aphasia is caused by an injury to the parts of the brain related to communication, most often due to a stroke. Aphasia can impair a person’s ability to speak and/or to understand, read or write. Learn about accessible communication and how you can help to support a person with aphasia through special conversation techniques.
Did you know …… According to the Canadian Stroke Best Practices, 21-38% of people experiencing a stroke will also experience aphasia. It is estimated that over 100,000 people in Canada have aphasia. Communication access is an essential part of accessibility for persons with aphasia.
Here are some accessible communication strategies to use. Give time! Allow time to process and to respond in all interactions. Do not speak too fast and check often for understanding (e.g. did I understand you to say…..). Stick to one topic at a time. Use other ways to communicate such as writing, drawing, pictures, yes/no cards and gestures.
Stroke Services at Greater Kingston Victorian Order of Nurses (GK VON) provide invaluable supports to those directly and indirectly affected by stroke, check us out online (https://von.ca/en/von-care/stroke-and-aphasia-support-services).
Support from GK VON Stroke Services is free and available to anyone affected by stroke, including stroke survivors and caregivers. Programming includes a variety of support groups for stroke survivors and caregivers offered in person and virtually. These groups help participants manage the life changes associated with stroke, including aphasia, as they meet with and learn from others who are on similar recovery journeys. GK VON also has educational resources and programs, such as the Regional Stroke Education Program and the Aphasia Supportive Conversation™ Group which is facilitated by a Speech Language Pathologist.
Contact GK VON Stroke Services to connect with supports, to learn more about stroke and aphasia, and to volunteer with us!
Thank you,
Emilia Leslie
GK VON Stroke Services
Emilia.leslie@von.ca
(613) 634-0130, ext. 3469
