Did you know that as many as 18 young Australians experience a stroke each day? Survivors face many challenges on their road to recovery – but a new service has been has been designed to meet their specific support needs.
The Florey Institute has launched Australia’s first health service for personalised care and long-term support for young people who have experienced stroke in Victoria.
The Young Stroke Service will create a new model of care, to support young people through recovery and achieving their goals. The expert team that developed this service focused on the most common unmet needs that young stroke survivors need addressed:
- Getting back to work and driving
- Help with memory and cognition
- Connecting with peers and developing supportive relationships
Professor Julie Bernhardt leads the Young Stroke Service at The Florey with Professor Vincent Thijs.
“The health system we have for people who have experienced stroke is geared towards older people, leaving younger people and their needs behind,” she says.
“Every stroke is different and that also means that each person’s recovery is unique to them. But we know that young people want to live a full life after stroke and need a service that puts them at the centre.”
The service will also inform research into understanding why young people experience stroke and how stroke can be prevented for this age group. Up to half of these strokes have unknown causes, which can lead to significant delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Clinicians can refer patients to the Young Stroke Service via email.
Do you know how to identify the signs of stroke?
The Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test. Ask these simple questions:
Face: Check their face. Has their mouth dropped?
Arms: Can they lift both arms?
Speech: Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time: Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call emergency services (000) straight away.
