42% of stroke survivors feel ‘abandoned’ after leaving hospital

New research from the Stroke Association has revealed that almost half of all stroke survivors feel abandoned after they leave hospital.

New research from the Stroke Association has revealed that almost half of all stroke survivors feel abandoned after they leave hospital. Just one in five of the people surveyed said that they received information or advice about coping with the emotional impact of the illness, despite the fact that in a recent survey, 2,700 people said that the emotional effects of a stroke were “as devastating as the physical effects”.

Friends and family members were also shown to be impacted by the effects of caring for someone with a stroke, with one in three saying that they feel ill-prepared to cope with their new role.

Chief executive of the Stroke Association, Jon Barrick, explained: “Stroke leaves survivors and families shocked, shaken and anxious as their lives are often irreversibly changed in an instant. There are over one million stroke survivors living in the UK and with an aging population this figure is only set to rise.”

Profession Reg Morris, a clinical psychologist at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, reinforced Barrick’s sentiments: “We know that with the right emotional, psychological and physical care, more stroke survivors will have the opportunity to make their best possible recovery.”

Whilst family and friends can be a great source of comfort and support in the aftermath of a stroke, external care can also be crucial to rehabilitation. Professional, experienced carers can assist with both the physical and emotional outcomes of the experience, and help to reduce the feelings of abandonment that The Stroke Association has uncovered.