Stroke stats
Extensive gaps exist in recovery support and services for Canadians who experience stroke at any age, says a new report.
Half of stroke survivors need help with daily activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, going to the washroom and getting around, the Heart and Stroke 2017 Stroke Report reveals.
Many deficits are “hidden”, such as memory issues, depression or fatigue or behaviour issues in kids. These issues are not well understood, and overall many needs are not being met, the study finds.
“We know stroke can happen at any age,” says Yves Savoie, CEO of Heart & Stroke.
“We need to ensure all Canadians who experience stroke, and their families, receive support and that they are at the centre of care, their personal goals are understood and they are involved every step of the way as recovery progresses and their needs change.”
Age is the strongest risk factor for stroke, and the population is aging. At the same time, stroke in younger people is on the rise — at a rate faster than older adults. There are more than 400,000 Canadians living with long-term disability from stroke and this will almost double in the next 20 years.
The effects of stroke range from mild to severe and can be obviously physical limitations or more subtle.
The report concludes that stroke affects quality of life and influences family relationships. — There are 62,000 strokes in Canada each year.
— Roughly 80 per cent survive stroke. — One in 6,300 babies is born with stroke.
— There are more than 10,000 children in Canada aged 18 years or younger living with stroke.
While some excellent resources are available in communities, they are too few and are mostly in major centres, cautions Heart and Stroke.
Barriers also exist around awareness, access and cost. Recovery needs can change over time, and some challenges are specific to particular ages but others are consistent across life stages.
“Two-thirds of stroke survivors return home, and family caregivers play an essential role in their recovery,’’ Heart & Stroke states in a release.
“The stroke caregiver role starts abruptly and they rarely receive the preparation they need. They must adapt quickly and learn to be experts and advocates, attend appointments and update various health professionals. Caregivers can experience negative impacts on their mental and physical health and on their work/career and finances and have less time for other family obligations.’’
According to the poll of Canadians, 31 per cent of respondents said they would not feel capable of personally caring for a family member who experienced stroke. Their top three concerns are lack of skills and ability to provide care, finances and not having free time or help from others.
“We need to ensure all Canadians who experience stroke, and their families, receive support and that they are at the centre of care, their personal goals are understood and they are involved every step of the way as recovery progresses and their needs change.” Yves Savoie, CEO, Heart and Stroke