You tough it out': aftercare for stroke patients

Each year there are about 40,000-48,000 stroke events among Australians and in 2003 around 346,700 Australians had had a stroke at some time in their lives (AIHW: Senes, 2006). The National Stroke Foundation "Walk in my Shoes" project found that Australian stroke survivors and their carers consistently report difficulty reintegrating into the community and general dissatisfaction with services and follow up post stroke (NSF, 2007). The research literature documents up to 50% dissatisfaction with care received after hospital discharge post stroke (Boter, 2004). This small project was funded by The Stroke Foundation as an independent analysis of how well its Home Follow-Up (HFU) program has worked for stroke survivors participating int he program. The project aimed to provided a study population profile as well as a snapshot of how satisfactory a stratified (by three categories of information/support provided) random sample of 19 out of 212 stroke survivors, including 3 carers, had found the follow up services provided by the National Stroke Foundation. The interviews also examined the interface between these services and other support services, identifying any unmet needs.