Sudbury-made post stroke program expands to new cities

A successful post-stroke program that started in Sudbury is expanding across northeastern Ontario.

Independence Centre and Network's (ICAN) post-stroke program has already launched in North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.

The program's expansion will now continue to Parry Sound, Temiskaming and Timmins thanks to $1.2 million in funding from the North East Local Health Integration Network.

Rebecca Bowes, the post-stroke program's regional co-ordinator, is training six navigators and four rehabilitation support workers to bring the program to their respective communities.

The 10 participants have varied backgrounds in health care, said Bowes. Some are registered nurses, while others are kinesiologists or have experience with social work.

They are learning about different services available in the northeast for people who have had strokes, best practices to work with patients and about different training and exercise programs to help people recover.

In Sudbury, around 350 benefit from the post-stroke program, which helps connect people to existing services, and offers everything from social support to rehabilitation.

“Every stroke is so different,” Bowes said. “We've made our program so we look at the individual and say, 'What do you need?'”

Hospitals only follow up with patients up to a year after their stroke, but Bowes said the recovery can be a lifelong journey.

The post-stroke program follows patients through their recovery for as long as they need the support, she said.

“It's been a wonderful experience being able to follow someone from day one,” Bowes said.