New Support Group Offers Outreach to Stroke Survivors of All Ages
Coping with the emotional and physical after-effects of a serious illness or injury can be a daily struggle, especially for younger patients who may find it difficult to connect with others facing the same situation.
“Coping with severe illness at a young age can be very isolating,” says Anne Dempsey, MD, an internal medicine physician at Kauai Medical Clinic (KMC) who recently began a Stroke Survivor Support Group at the clinic.
“I have several young stroke survivor patients, and I know that they struggle on a daily basis,” Dempsey says. “Having a stroke can be very disabling and life-altering, and I wanted to start a support group for my young patients. Later, I realized that all stroke survivors would benefit from talking to others going through similar experiences.”
The group meets on the first Monday of the month in the KMC 1st floor conference room. The hour-long meetings begin at 5 p.m. and are an informal opportunity for survivors and caregivers to get together, talk story and share their experiences of life after stroke.
All stroke survivors, especially those under age 50, and their caregivers are welcome to attend.
“Having a stroke or caring for someone who has had a stroke poses unique challenges. I think that caregivers too can benefit from connecting with other caregivers,” Dempsey says. “I hope that this group will help stroke survivors feel less isolated. I want it to be a place where they can share their feelings and experiences with others who understand the unique challenges of life post-stroke.”
For more information about the KMC Stroke Survivor Support Group, call 245-1500.
Published on: April 15, 2016
