Bay Area Stroke/Aphasia Support Groups

Pat Martin Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County Mt. Diablo Medical Center, Concord, CA 94520, or John Muir Medical Center, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Contact: Ann Dzuna (925) 376-6218 Email: ADZUNA@COMCAST.NET Stroke + Head Injury Support Group Washington Hospital, Washington West, Anderson Auditorium Washington Hospital, Rehab Dept., 2000 Mowry Ave., Fremont, CA 94538-1716 Contact: Karen Benedetti, (510) 818-6253 CSU East Bay Aphasia Group California University - East Bay, Speech, Language & Hearing Clinic, MB# 1097A, Communicative Sciences and Disorders 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA 94542-3065 Contact: Shelley Simrin, (510) 885-4762 or (510) 885-3233 Email: ssimrin@csuhayward.edu Interpersonal Skills - Stroke Support Group College of Marin, Disabled Student Services Program, 835 College Ave., Kentfield, CA 94904 Contact: Maureen Green (415) 457-8811 ext. 7702 Veterans Stroke Support and Communication Group VA Outpatient Clinic, Speech Pathology (126), 150 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553 Contact: Jennifer Ogar, CCC-SLP , (925) 370-4129 Email: jenny.ogar@med.va.gov Aphasia Center of California Aphasia Center of California, 200 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610 Contact: Roberta Elman, Ph.D., (510) 336-0112 Email: RJElman@aol.com Website: www.aphasiacenter.org Peninsula Stroke Association Support Group Network Peninsula Stroke Association VAPAHCS, Bldg. 6, Rm. A-162 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304 Contact: Clara Roa (650) 565-8485 Email: clara@psastroke.org Stroke Club Stonestown FamilyYMCA, Senior Annex, 3150 20th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132 Contact: Kathy Orsi (415) 759-9632 ext. 217 Stroke/Communication Group City College of San Francisco, JohnAdams Campus, DSPS Dept., 1860 Hayes St., San Francisco, CA 94117 Contact: Judi Kaplan or Joyce Foreman (415) 561-1005. E-mail: KPLNJ@aol.com or jforeman@ccsf.org West Contra Costa County Stroke andAphasia Support Group Doctors Medical Center 2000Vale Rd., San P ablo, CA 94805 Contact: Flo Leverenz, (925) 676-7733 Valley Care Medical Center Stroke Support Group 5555 W. Las Positas Blvd Pleasanton, CA 94588 Contact: Wanda Sidun, Alvin Encarnacion, Matthew Stokes, OT (925)-447-7000 x 5247 Eden Hospital Stroke Support Group 20103 Lake Chabot Road, CastroValley, CA 94546-5367 Contact: Liz Whitaker, Sylvia Dawson at (510) 727-2761 Easter Seals Society Stroke Support Group 2757Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612-179 Contact: Susan Ewing at (510) 835-2131 American Stroke Association: www.strokeassociation.org National Aphasia Association: www.aphasia.org

What to Expect Following a Stroke

Wisdom from a stroke survivor
By Phil B.

What to Expect Following a Stroke Wisdom from a stroke survivor

Immediately after in the hospital
Confusion at first-Where am I? Sense of direction is poor. Loss of feeling in limbs and dislocation of joints is often temporary, for example, in arm and shoulders. Sensitivity to light It is okay to keep your room darkened. Emotional ups and downs watching TV or listening to music might make you cry. Some unpleasant things are temporary, like having to wear a diaper, loss of dignity. Speech loss, comprehension loss, poor ability to read Depending on your stroke type and location is often recovered. Memory lossesshort term and long term Many stroke survivors suffer short term loss, but it usually gets better. Vision and hearing might be impaired; going cross-eyed temporarily is common. A lot of tests at all hoursfrom blood tests to psychology tests.

As your stay is lengthened in a rehabilitation unit

Confusion later is also common, for example, looking at a telephone and trying to recall what to do with it. Expect attention from staff and ask for what you need, but realize it is not always on your schedule. Be your own advocate and ask lots of questions. Its OK to be a pain in the neck! Take advantage of services offered! Occupational or physical therapy, speech training, nutrition, counseling. Will I or wont I remain independent after my hospital stay? Check with social services for ideas on getting to and from places like to the doctor, groceries etc. Financial worries - How will I live? Find a good social worker to help with disability filing etc. Will friends and family react to me in the same way as they did before my stroke? Will they treat me like an invalid or child? Or, if you are single you may worry, will I ever be attractive again? Depressed feelings are very common but will ease over time.

In the long term looking to the future

On-going therapy is a good thingpsychotherapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, etc. Support groups are out there use them! See back page for more information. Tell your doctor if you experience ongoing depression.

The most important thing is to be patient and try to keep a positive attitude.