Recovery after stroke involves more than physical rehabilitation. It also includes emotional healing. Individuals recovering from stroke and their care partners have shared that mental health supports are critical, yet too often fragmented, costly, or hard to navigate.
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The workshop, “Communicating with Persons with Aphasia: Putting it Into Practice”, was hosted in partnership with Providence Care Hospital in Founder’s Hall. The 55 participants included a variety of health care providers from acute care, rehabilitation, complex continuing care, outpatient, the community, long-term care and other related settings. Despite having run this event last year, the large number of participants and the need for a wait list for this event demonstrated the keen interest of those who care for people with aphasia to learn more and refresh their knowledge and skills.
On October 24, 2025, the Stroke Network hosted the Community Stroke Rehabilitation (CSR) Forum, bringing together community therapists, rehabilitation assistants, and managers from across the region. The goal of this event was to share learnings from CSR related work within the region and to highlight clinical insights that support the CSR Model of Care. A visiting CSR team from Sudbury joined the day and generously shared their experiences and approaches to deliver the CSR Model of Care with a patient centred approach embracing individualized strategies for goal attainment and community re-integration.
June is Stroke Month, and the Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario wishes to extend a wealth of gratitude to stroke care providers across the region and across the care continuum. Persons with stroke in our region are in good hands, and we are grateful for your tireless dedication to helping persons with stroke and their loved ones regain their health and their quality of life.
Each June, communities across Canada come together to recognize Stroke Awareness Month and Aphasia Awareness Month – two critical observances that shine a spotlight on prevention, early recognition, recovery, and the communication challenges that many stroke survivors face.
Healthcare Providers came together to discuss stroke prevention in the primary care setting in Belleville on April 23, 2025. The goal of the event was to share information about primary and secondary stroke prevention and to identify challenges and potential areas to improve stroke prevention efforts in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. Feedback from the event was extremely positive with attendees stating that it was a “great event” and “excellent presentation”. Key learnings from the event were identified as recognition of the quality of stroke care in the area, the importance of public awareness and calling 911, the awareness of community resources and information on antiplatelet therapy
The Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario is extremely proud to share that Brockville General Hospital is now a Telestroke site. After several months of intensive clinical and technical planning, Brockville General Hospital went live with Telestroke on July 8th, 2024. Brockville General Hospital is now one of many sites in the province that uses video technology to connect with neurologists to support the delivery of thrombolysis closer to home.
The recently released Community Stroke Support Services: Southeastern Ontario Annual Report for 2023-24 highlights the extraordinary work being done to help people living with stroke remain at home longer with help to better manage their health and improve their sense of well-being: “Being able to talk to a group of people that have been through something similar makes one feel not alone.” Given the level of disability experienced by people living with stroke and the added stress on their caregivers, stroke support in the community is an essential part of the healthcare system.
Each year, the Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario and Ontario Health atHome review the Community Stroke Rehab Program. The latest review for the 2023/24 fiscal year found that 542 stroke patients received community-based rehabilitation, which is consistent with the previous year. The number of therapy visits by rehab assistants increased by 178 per cent from 459 in 2022/23 to 1,277 in 2023/24, with 95 patients across the southeast area receiving at least one visit.
Healthcare Providers from Primary Care and the Stroke Prevention Clinic in the KFLA area came together on June 24, 2024 for a local engagement and education session. The goal of the session was to share information, discuss roles and supports, and identify challenges and opportunities related to primary and secondary stroke prevention.