C A N A D I A N
R E D U C I N G T H E I M P A C T O F S T R O K E
VOLUME 8 NUMBER 2
GETTING ON WITH
THE REST OF
YOUR LIFE
AFTER
STROKE
Bonus
A patient's guide
to stroke care
W W W. C A N A D I A N S T R O K E N E T W O R K . C A
STROKE NETWORK
C A N A D I A N
Mission
To reduce the impact of stroke on
W W W. C A N A D I A N S T R O K E N E T W O R K . C A
CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Be Creative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
A Patient’s Guide
to Stroke Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Getting on
With the Rest
of Your Life
After Stroke
Pg. 1
Introduction
Studies show that 50 per cent of people who return home after
having a stroke do not have a meaningful activity to fill their day.
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
2
canadian stroke network
Goal Setting
Set goals:
“Don’t just think it. Ink it.”
• Setting goals is an important part of the stroke recovery process.
• Short-term goals are things you can achieve in one or two weeks.
>>
to help set your goals!
A ATTAINABLE You can attain a goal you set when you plan
wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out
steps towards the goal.
Goal Setting
short-term goals
SHORT-TERM GOALS ARE THINGS YOU CAN ACHIEVE IN ONE OR TWO WEEKS
My Goal is…
Plan:
My Goal is…
Plan:
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
long-term goals
LONG-TERM GOALS TAKE LONGER TO REACH—WEEKS OR MONTHS
My Goal is…
Plan:
My Goal is…
Plan:
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Regular exercise is an
important part of the
recovery process after stroke.
It also helps lower the risk of
having another stroke.
What can you do? • Try walking with
5
Exercise
Steps • Go to your local community
centre to see if there are any
exercise programs for seniors
or the disabled.
Nordic Poles. (They
come with instruc-
tion manuals and
videos to explain the
needs to proper technique.) A pair
accomplish of poles can enhance your
• Start walking.
five things: workout, give you balance and
take stress off the lower body
Research shows that the average
Increase joints. You can buy walking
1 person should walk 10,000 steps
heart rate poles online at www.mec.ca
a day. After stroke, most
and through other retail stores.
Build people walk about
2 strength 2,800 steps a day,
or the equivalent
Improve of a mile.
3 mobility
Get a low-cost pedometer
Increase
4 flexibility
and try to increase the
number of steps you take
by 500 a week.
Regain rapid
5 movement
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10 week
>>
Average
Week Frequency Duration
1 to
2 to
3 to
4 to
5 to
6 to
7 to
8 to
9 to
10 to
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Blood Pressure
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CONTACT YOUR
Track your blood pressure here. PHYSICIAN IF YOUR
BLOOD PRESSURE
>>
IS HIGH.
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Medication
Even if you start to feel better, it is essential that you keep taking
your medications so that they can continue to protect you.
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
>>
>
Medication Diary
a st
me
Date
r
akf
nch
ne
dti
Started Dosing Special
B re
Din
Medication Instructions Instructions
Be
Lu
DD/MM/YY
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ Take pill(s)
times a day
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Eating Well
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Control Stress
Be Creative
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Be Creative
Worksheets Inuksuk
An inuksuk (plural inuksuit), pronounced “inukshuk”, with the
emphasis on the “nuk,” is a stone landmark used as a milestone or
directional marker by the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic. Inuksuit vary
in shape and size, and perform a diverse array of tasks. It is a symbol
with deep roots in the Inuit culture, a directional marker that signifies
safety, hope and friendship.
The word inuksuk means “something which acts for or performs the
function of a person.” They are often built in the shape of a person,
with one arm longer than the other. The longer arm points in the
direction to go. It also means, “we are all connected”.
materials
Rocks: flat for base, long and flatish for arms, rounded for bodies
and heads. Found rocks are the best as they are rough and glue well;
wash first. Purchased rocks can be incorporated between the rough
rocks but they do not glue well together.
Spray varnish: makes a nice shiny finish (Krylon), available in all art
and craft stores, about $7.
Assembly: Start with large flat stone, make legs, body, arms and head.
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Be Creative
Worksheets collage
A collage (From the French: coller, to glue) is an art form of ground-
breaking novelty made from an assemblage of different forms, thus
creating a new whole. An artistic collage work may include news-
paper clippings, ribbons, bits of colored or hand-made papers,
portions of other artwork, photographs, and such, glued to a piece
of paper or canvas. This term was coined by both Georges Braque
and Pablo Picasso in the beginning of the 20th century when
collage became a distinctive part of modern art.
materials
Base: bristol board, artists boards, cork tiles, any firm surface.
Glue: any paper glue with a small paint brush, and tweezers to
handle glued paper.
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Be Creative
Worksheets rug hooking,
needlepoint,
materials
braiding or
Rug hooking/needlepoint
kits can be purchased quite corking
inexpensively and are suitable
for persons with only one
functional arm.
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Be Creative
Worksheets
Favorite recipes for favorite times: what a great gift
cookbook
materials
Recipes: could be handwritten, cut out of magazines or
newspapers, downloaded from the Internet.
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Brain Exercise
• Read a book. Don’t pick up the book you were reading before
your stroke. Start with a book you read to your children – some-
thing like Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – because
you are already familiar with the words and intonation.
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CANADIAN STROKE NETWORK
Sudoku
1 Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 4 appear in each row.
2 Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 4 appear in each column.
3 Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 4 appear in each 2x2 section.
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Providing Support
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Learn More
Notes
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Sudoku Answers
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Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care have been developed
by stroke experts across the country. These recommendations focus on optimal
treatment for stroke patients. A patient’s guide to this information can be found
on the following pages. Learn more about the Canadian Stroke Strategy at
www.canadianstrokestrategy.ca
26
Stroke Prevention, Treatment and
Recovery: Basic Information for
A Patient’s Guide to Stroke Care
27
1
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
28
2
STROKE CARE IN HOSPITAL
29
3
REHABILITATION
30
4
PREVENTION
EDUCATION