Hope after a stroke: A third of stroke survivors lost their job after their stroke with some even losing their home or partner – but having ‘hope’ is critical to recovery

• 18% of stroke survivors in the North West say having a stroke cost them their job, UK wide almost one in ten say it caused their relationship to end and 6% even lost their home
• Across the UK, over half of younger stroke survivors under the age of 50 say they have never emotionally recovered from their stoke
• But a quarter felt first signs of hope after a week since having a stroke – although nearly one in seven have not felt any hope since it happened
• The Stroke Association calls for those who can to donate to give more survivors hope after a stroke
• Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and it changes lives in an instant.
• The Stroke Association is a charity working across the UK to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. We believe that everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. From local support services and groups, to online information and support, anyone affected by stroke can visit stroke.org.uk or call our dedicated Stroke Helpline on 0303 3033 100 to find out about support available locally.
• Our specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community and the generosity of our supporters. With more donations and support, we can help rebuild even more lives.
• · You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn

Embargoed until 13 October 2021 – The practical, emotional and physical impact of having a stroke has been laid bare by a new survey of over 3,500 stroke survivors across the UK, released today. The research, conducted by the Stroke Association ahead of World Stroke Day (29 October), is part of a renewed call for vital funds to help the charity give more survivors hope after their stroke and help them to rebuild their lives.

The impact on survivors in the North West

The research reveals that 18% of those in the North West who survived a stroke say it directly led to them losing their job whilst 3% say it led to them losing their home.

Furthermore, 12% say it had a negative impact on their relationship with their partner, with 5% saying it led to their relationship ending. It is not only relationships with partners that are affected – 8% say they lost friends as a result of having a stroke.

Younger survivors more severely impacted

Looking at stroke survivors across the UK, the research reveals that the emotional impact of a stroke can impact younger survivors more severely. Amongst those under the age of 50, six in ten (60%) say that they’ve never emotionally recovered from the impact of their stroke. This compares to 44% for those over the age of 50.

This is despite a similar number of younger stroke survivors under the age of 50 (52%) and over the age of 50 (50%) saying they have not physically recovered from their stroke.

The importance of hope

The research shows the importance and transformative power of feeling hope after having a stroke. Three quarters of those surveyed in the UK (76%) say that hope played an important or critical part in their recovery.

But for many, it was not a quick process. Whilst a quarter (25%) say they began to feel hope after a month since their stroke, for over a fifth (22%) it took more than a year to experience what they felt was the first sign of hope. Meanwhile 13% say they have never felt hopeful since they had their stroke – demonstrating how strokes can impact survivors differently.

The Stroke Association helps people to find the hope they need to rebuild their lives through specialist services, including a Helpline, peer support service, support groups and Support Coordinators.

Hazel Grindle, 56 from Liverpool, knows better than most how seemingly small things can be huge moments of hope when recovering from a stroke.

Mother of two Hazel, had her stroke in January 2020 that left her having to learn to walk, eat and speak properly again. After waking up, Hazel collapsed trying to get out of bed and after noticing the right hand side of her body wasn’t working properly, her Husband, Alan, called an ambulance.

Hazel said: “The ambulance was at my house in five minutes. I was confused as I didn’t feel unwell at all but when they did their tests at the hospital, I was unable to lift my right arm. The doctor came in eventually and told me I had had a stroke – I was gobsmacked, I hugged Alan and couldn’t stop crying. I thought it was a mistake and that I couldn’t have had a stroke.”

Hazel was moved to a stroke ward for further tests and assessments. As Hazel couldn’t swallow properly she was given a drink thickener and mushy food. A speech and language therapist also had to help her learn to speak again, while she was also visited by physiotherapists to help her begin to walk again.

Hazel said: “Having physios there was so strange – I was thinking,’ I know how to walk, why do I have to learn this again?’ After taking four steps I was really tired but the physio said I had done really well and explained about stroke fatigue but again I was thinking, ‘it’s four steps, what’s good about that?”

Despite returning home and having physio three times a week and her improvements in eating and talking, it was Hazel’s hand that was causing her so many problems.

Hazel said: “No matter how much I willed my fingers to move they just wouldn’t. I would sit there demanding my fingers to move but they wouldn’t. I would try and try and get so frustrated and exhausted. My fingers were in so much pain and Alan had to force them to stretch out and massage them.

Then in March, Hazel had what she describes as a “miracle”, when one morning she could actually move her hand and lift her arm.

Hazel said: “The next morning after the physio had visited to massage my hand, I woke up and tried to move my little finger and it actually moved. I was screaming at Alan and the kids to come and see. I could actually move my fingers and managed to lift my arm right to the top for the first time in weeks.

“That was a wow moment for me and my first glimmer of hope. I knew then that all the effort was working and I could get better, no matter how long it might take.”

Big and small moments of hope

The research found that it can be both big and small moments of hope that are important. When asked what gave them their firstmoment of hope after a stroke, 17% said it was being able to use their affected side for the first time and 11% said it was being able to speak again. However, 15% said it was being able to complete a small every day task such as making a cup of tea.

Reevaluating what is important after a stroke

The impact of a stroke leads many to reevaluate what is important in life. Over half (56%) say having a stroke made them appreciate their life more, 43% say it made them appreciate their family more and 41% say it made them appreciate the importance of looking after their health.

Jennifer Gardner, Association Director for the North West, at the Stroke Association said: “Every five minutes, someone in the UK will have a stroke and in a flash, their life is changed. Two thirds of people who survive a stroke find themselves living with a disability. The physical impact of a stroke is severe, but for many, the emotional aspects of coming to terms with having a stroke are just as significant. As the research makes clear, finding hope is a crucial part of the recovery process. Without it, recovery can seem impossible.

“At the Stroke Association, we support and help people to find this hope, and rebuild their lives. But with 1.3m people and rising in the UK now living with the effects of a stroke, our services have never been more stretched. We urgently require the support of the public to help us continue to support stroke survivors to rebuild their lives.”

The Stroke Association is asking those who can to donate today so that it can reach more stroke survivors and give them the specialist support they need to find hope and move forward with their recovery. Visit stroke.org.uk/hopeafterstroke

ENDS

For more information, contact Ken Scott, PR Officer at the Stroke Association on 0115 7788429 or email ken.scott@stroke.org.uk

Notes to Editors

Statistics based on a Stroke Association nationally representative survey of 3,572 stroke survivors, conducted in September 2021.

About the Stroke Association