Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. As an Rn working in the neurology department of a local hospital, helping patients and families cope with the results from a stroke is challenging. Some of the effects begin to resolve within hours, while others last for months and even permanently. Stroke patients need skilled therapy from a very early stage of their stroke to maximize their recovery. Stroke patients often have to change or relearn the way they once did daily activities. This webliography is comprised of reputable websites for patients and their families to help with the recovery from a stroke and adopt lifestyle changes to help prevent another stroke from occurring.
These sites have been evaluated carefully to ensure their validity and sensitivity to this topic. The leading organizations involved with stroke recovery and prevention are included in this list. All the data is the most current available and most of these sites have links that are worthy of following with valuable information.
The International Stroke Database
http://www.strokedatabase.org/index.html
The International Stroke Database is dedicated to providing the international stroke research community with access to clinical and research data to accelerate the development and application of advanced neuroinformatic techniques in clinical settings to improve patient management and ultimately outcome. This database is very clinical, and on a higher level of learning.
The National Stroke Association
This is a good summary of stroke information, prevention, and recovery and care. There is also a good link to a stroke recovery guide. This is a good site for patients, friends and family put very simply and easy to follow.
The American Stroke Association
http://www.strokeassociation.org/
This site is very easily understood and has some great links for stroke support and information.
Wikipedia
Stroke Recovery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/stroke_recovery
This is a great site for initial understanding of stroke and stroke recovery. It is very easy to understand and concise. This would be a great first site to read for family and friends.
The Volunteer Stroke Scheme
http://www.strokescheme.ie/articles/q_a.htm
This is a great site set up in a question and answer forum for patients, family and friends. It is very informative and easily understood.
The Stroke Recovery Association of Canada
http://www.strokerecovery.org/
Although this site is actually from Canada, it is focussed on stroke survivors, and with the day and age of the internet it is a valuable tool for stroke survivors and their families. This site would be good for families and caregivers as the process of recovery and discovery continues.
