INS stroke services is a dedicated service for Richmond and Hounslow and its surrounding areas.
INS Stroke Support Group
At INS we hold weekly stroke support groups for those who have survived a stroke. We do symptom management, exercise, and discussions. The outcomes of the stroke support group are to improve wellbeing, reduce use of unplanned NHS and other statutory services, and reduce social isolation. There is a form that must be filled out to discover readiness for exercise. This has goals which are reviewed regularly and helps measure your progress within the group.
Caregivers of stroke survivors can support each other with our mutual support group and other activities.
Expanding Horizons is a group that runs regularly and is therapeutic for stroke survivors. Some of the activities include gardening, art, creative writing, coffee and conversation, music therapy, and outings.
At INS stroke services we have individual support with flexible times and days for one to one sessions in physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech and language therapy all catering to your specific needs and rehabilitation goals.
INS stroke services also have counselling sessions to listen and help you sort through emotional issues to enable positive outcomes.
If you are not currently known to the team and wish to become an INS service user, you will need to complete our referral form. Please see our How to refer page for details.
If you are interested in attending one of these groups, or have any questions, please contact us by emailing [email protected] or by calling us on 020 8755 4000.
Our full programme can be found here
INS after care services for stroke are based in Richmond and Hounslow and the surrounding areas. If you are interested in using our services, please visit the link What INS Can Do For You to discover more.
The process of a stroke patient’s rehabilitation begins in the early stages 24 hours after a stroke. This will include basic activities like getting out of bed, standing, and walking. These are done repetitively to help the patient recover faster and relearn daily activities.
Physiotherapists may have specialised equipment to increase rehabilitation rates. Robots support people to walk by themselves, while the treadmill enhances walking speed and strength. Virtual reality may be useful but does not replace tested conventional therapies.
Flexibility is key when it comes to managing long terms conditions. Physiotherapy helps patients to integrate physical activity into their routines. This has the knock on effect of reducing the risk of another stroke.
Incorporating endurance and strength physical activities into rehabilitation reduces the likelihood of disability. There are core exercises which include balance, weight-shifting, gait to improve the core after stroke.
The statistics say that people of working age are two to three times more likely to be unemployed even after eight years since having the stroke. There have been major difficulties in accessing rehabilitation services and there has been not enough capacity to support people who want to return to work.
For more information: https://www.csp.org.uk/publications/physiotherapy-works-stroke
An intervention with occupational therapy for stroke is about relearning your daily activities for your recovery and rehabilitation. It gives you the opportunity to lead a normal independent life. It helps you to regain movement for daily life and things you want to do. Any hobby or work before the stroke is attainable again. Occupational therapists are qualified in this line of work. They work side by side with the stroke team so they see the full picture of the problems. In a multidisciplinary stroke team there are physiotherapists, speech language therapists, doctors, nurses and social workers, and other specialists.
An occupational therapist will assess you with your strengths and weaknesses to find any difficulties once you’ve had a stroke. This covers daily activities, movements, sensations, vision, and awareness. They may even explore your mode of thinking. They may question you about your mood and whether you are depressed or uneasy. They will give you some suggestions or refer you to a specialist. Occupational therapists look at you holistically to understand your environment. If you are being assessed you will be surveyed when you are doing daily activities. The therapist may have assessment packs and questionnaires to discover more about your abilities to do something. You will have a tailored plan with them for rehabilitation. There will be goals you have set with them which can help you manage if there is a setback. They can help you break down tasks to make them more manageable.
For more information: https://www.stroke.org.uk/life-after-stroke/occupational-therapy
For more information: https://www.rcot.co.uk/sites/default/files/Supporting-Stroke-Survivors-2015.pdf
A stroke is caused by the blood supply to part of the brain being cut off. This is due to a blood vessel bleeding or getting blocked. As a result, that part of the brain becomes damaged. The effects of stroke will vary depending on which part of the brain is damaged.
A stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, and urgent treatment is essential. The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.
‘There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year. That is around one stroke every five minutes. There are over 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK. Stroke is the fourth biggest killer in the in the UK. Fourth in England and Wales, and the third biggest killer in Scotland and Northern Ireland’. (Stroke Association. 2018) Two thirds of strokes occur in people over 65 years old.
All strokes are different. For some, the effects may be minimal and not last long. Whilst others can be left with more severe problems which result in them becoming dependent on other people. Sadly, approximately 12.5% die within 30 days of having a stroke.
Causes of a stroke:
The brain needs considerable amounts of oxygen and nutrients, carried to it in our blood to operate well. Restriction of this blood supply leads to brain cell death, this then leads to a stroke. There are two main causes of strokes:ischaemic – where the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot, accounting for 85% of all cases haemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts A transient ischaemic attack or TIA is also known as a mini-stroke is the same as a stroke, except that the symptoms only last for a short amount of time, typically less than 24 hours. This is because the blockage that stops the blood getting to your brain is temporary. TIAs should be considered as an urgent warning to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if symptoms resolve.
Some conditions increase the risk of having a stroke, including:
Medical treatment of stroke depends on the type of stroke, including which part of the brain was affected. Usual treatment is with medicines to prevent and dissolve blood clots, reduce blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels. On occasions, surgery may be required to treat brain swelling, remove blood clots, or reduce the risk of additional bleeding in cases of haemorrhagic strokes.
For some stroke survivors a lengthy period of stroke rehabilitation is needed before they can recover their pre-stroke level of independence. However, many never regain previous levels of independence and they need support and assistance to live with the stroke. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy (OT) and speech and language therapy (SLT) are the foundations of stroke rehabilitation. Stroke rehabilitation is often focused on functional tasks and patient’s goals.
INS has resumed more face-to-face services. We continue to support our clients and carers by offering virtual group sessions via Zoom videolink and face-to-face sessions at our base in Twickenham- please see below for details of our current programme. Read more