Music lights up the whole brain, “like the sky during a fireworks display,” said Kyle Wilhelm, MA, MTBC in the Music Therapy Services department of West Music. This seems to bring delight as many survivors experience firsthand.
Music therapists do not try to improve a person’s ability to sing or play an instrument — that is the job of a music educator. Music therapy is used to improve three areas of functioning with survivors: motor, speech and cognitive.
For stroke survivors, outdoor sports provide opportunities to challenge yourself both physically and mentally due to an unpredictable and changing environment. Meeting new challenges can be empowering to a survivor.
Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) — also known as vascular dementia — affects thinking, memory, the ability to shift focus and more. There is no cure, but it may be that a heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent it.
For Phyllis Weiss, a 65-year-old survivor from Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, each sound she painstakingly — but patiently — forms is a triumph. In her quiet, halting delivery is an underlying strength and vitality. Qualities that carried her through an entire year of silence.
Life-altering events force us to look back on our lives. That was especially true for me during the first four months after my hemorrhagic stroke in 2013 at age 44.
Getting back to traveling can give families dealing with stroke a fresh perspective by going with others who share similar challenges. While traveling post-stroke can be challenging, going with a group can offer “a safe place to explore new boundaries for both the caregiver and the survivor,” said cruiser Laura Latham.
Stroke Survivors Empowering Each Other, Inc. (SSEEO) offers support but isn’t your traditional stroke support group. Founded in 2004 by survivors, caregivers and other stroke stakeholders as a patient-support advocacy group, SSEEO has grown into a nonprofit that provides advocacy, support, education and resources to stroke families.
The type of rehabilitation and support systems a survivor receives at discharge can strongly influence health outcomes and recovery. In this, the first part of a two-part series on stroke rehab, we offer guidance for the decision-making process required when it’s time to leave the hospital.
After stroke, about two-thirds of survivors receive some type of rehabilitation. Outpatient therapy may consist of
Several types of therapy. Whether a patient is referred to inpatient or outpatient therapy depends on the level of medical care required.
Following a stroke, about two-thirds of survivors receive some type rehabilitation. In this second of our two-part series, we want to alleviate some of the mystery, fear and anxiety around the inpatient rehab part of the stroke recovery journey.
Everyone has a reason to live a longer, healthier life. These stroke survivors, caregivers and others share their 'whys'. We'd love for you to share yours, too!
Cooking at home can be a daunting task, but a rewarding one for your diet and lifestyle (and your wallet). Making small changes in your diet is important to your heart health. Here are simple, healthy and affordable recipes and cooking tips.
Stroke affects people differently and many of the effects of stroke can be complicated. Helping friends and family understand how a stroke is affecting a survivor can help everyone involved.
Our new department highlighting the good work being done by stroke support groups from around the nation. If you are part of a successful support group we should consider featuring, let us know!
