Support Groups

There are support groups for both stroke survivors and caregivers for those who have experienced stroke. The website Stroke.org has a tool in which someone can search any state and be given a list of various stroke support groups in the area.

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In Tualatin, there is a stroke survivor support group that meets once a month (every fourth Thursday) from 5-6:30 pm at the Meridian Park Medical Center. They emphasize that all ages are welcome, and that the support groups is for both stroke survivors and caregivers.

There are several support groups located in Portland that deal with stroke patients learning how to cope with aphasia. An important aspect of these groups--both the Backstrokes and the Men's Caregiving Support Group--is that both survivors and caregivers are a part of these groups in order to foster learning and rehabilitation. The Backstrokes meet weekly, but the Men's Caregiving Support Group only meets once a month.

In Clackamas, there is a weekly meeting at Valley View Evangelical Church from 11am to 12 pm on Mondays. I think this support group would be a great fit for new stroke survivors because of the regular meetings and the support that other people there could provide. I think the relationships formed there would be much deeper than those of a monthly meeting.

There are many other groups located in Oregon that may be in closer proximity to your location, but I suggest trying multiple groups in order to find one that is a good fit for the support needed to foster rehabilitation.

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Helpful Apps for Stroke Patients

Stroke can often affect speech processes, and there are apps that can help in the rehabilitation process, as well as apps that help facilitate a greater understanding of stroke in general.

• MyHeart &Stroke Health (free): This application can be used for those who have had an acute stroke or a risk for stroke. It has a blood pressure tracker, medication tracker, a way to manage appointments, as well as information on low sodium foods that lower blood pressure in stroke prevention. 

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• Neurology Book: This is an app that can be used to understand the pathological side of stroke in an easy to understand language. It can get technical, but can provide a patient with good information to facilitate a more in-depth understanding of the physiological/neurological components of a stroke. 
• Comprehension TherAppy: (it's a pun) This app can be helpful for patients who experience speech aphasia after a stroke incidence. It works as a game that a patient can rebuild the verbal connections to different pictures, and can also produce a report to give to a speech therapist to demonstrate the progress in speech rehabilitation.