Vital community support plays a crucial role for stroke survivors and their carers in Carmarthenshire

A new Community connect stroke support service has been supporting stroke survivors, their families and carers across Carmarthenshire in 2024.

The Stroke Association is commissioned to provide a service by Carmarthenshire County Council to work with people, their families and carers who have been touched by stroke by contacting them to offer information, advice and support to enable people to retain and regain their skills and confidence to maintain their health, well-being and independence through sustainable social integration and strong community relationships.

The service works in partnership with communities and is led by them; the term ‘communities’ being defined as people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic, attitude, or interest in common.

Working together, the Stroke Association Carmarthenshire Community connect service in partnership with other 3^rd sector organisations has developed a sustainable health wellbeing walking group. The service also aims to facilitate the opportunity for stroke survivors and their carers to learn new skills or return to interests. In stroke recovery, it is important to aim for independence and have an identity in the community.

Maximising the skills and resources already available in communities co- producing with other organisations and community groups has enabled people to continue to be active and engaged.

Wayne Rees, 54 years old from Llanelli had a stroke in July 2022. It affected his life massively and left him unable to walk.

I was self-employed and had my own successful business for nearly 19 years and that day it all disappeared. It was upsetting to lose the business as we worked so hard for it. I already had depression before the stroke, and I didn’t think it could get any worse, but it did. I was in a dark cloud and there was no light at the end of the tunnel for me.  With my anxiety after my stroke, I found it difficult to see or meet people. I had become a hermit.

When Carla from the Stroke Association called me, it was lovely to speak to someone that understood me. I talked about wood turning as my father had passed away and left me a lathe. That chat pushed me into trying to do it again and Carla introduced me to some great places to do it.”

 

Wayne joined a local woodworking class, the men's shed group and a peer support group in Llanelli.

I didn’t want to go to peer support, but we have such great chats. We open up to each other about our experiences. It is a big help. It is so important to speak to others who have had a stroke and know what I am going through.

The men’s shed and wood turning group is great and it helped me find myself again. People with all disabilities attend and if it wasn’t for Carla I would never have heard about it. It really does make a difference and gave me the confidence to attend these groups. To all stroke survivors remember you are not on your own and there is help and support available.”

Robert Owens, 65 years old from Gorslas had his stroke in 2018. He wishes there was more opportunities when he first had his stroke to get involved in community projects and learn skills.

“Meeting up with other stroke survivors and talking about what we have all been through helps me so much. Being able to take part in projects whether its workshop building or gardening would have really helped me in my recovery and built a new me. I wish this opportunity was available when I had my stroke. I think it will help so many stroke survivors now and, in the future, as it will help with their well- being and give them a sense of purpose in the community again.”

Lynn Preece, Stroke Association Service Delivery Lead said:

“It is a strong start to the project, we can see how connecting Stroke survivors and their carers to opportunities can help in reengaging with community, combat isolation and rebuild lives.

The aim is to develop sustainable peer support groups and work with community organisations to create stroke friendly communities which will continue to have an impact for many years to come. We work collaboratively with Carmarthenshire County Council, Community Preventative Services Hub partners, NHS partners and other professionals, Stroke association Stroke Recovery service, Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS), to ensure there are seamless links between services so that people can access holistic, flexible services to improve/maintain their health, wellbeing and independence through social integration and strong community relationships.

We also focus on prevention awareness, highlighting key information such as FAST messaging and focus on key information on how to help to prevent a stroke through community events. We offer Stroke awareness sessions together with our Community Connect volunteers.

It is important for stroke survivors to build resilience to enable people touched by stroke to be as physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially well as they can be”

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Services - Cllr Jane Tremlett  said:

Carmarthenshire County Council are committed to working with the third sector to develop community preventative services that will support residents to live well; promoting wellbeing, independence, and resilience. Our work with the Stroke Association has achieved positive outcomes through development of sustainable networks and peer support. Over the coming months, commissioners will work closely with the Stroke Association to determine how services will evolve to continue to meet the needs of residents.”

The Stroke Association hosted a celebration event of the progress of the Stroke Association’s Carmarthenshire Community Connect Service on September 4th, 2024 at the University Wales Trinity St David.

For more information on the Community Connect Stroke service or if you are interested in being a volunteer for the project please email  Carla.williams@stroke.org.uk.