While they are skills most of us take for granted each day - like walking, talking, dressing ourselves and even swallowing - for some these are challenges that need to be relearned all over again. And thanks to a new strategy implemented in Yorkton, local and area residents will have the help and support they need to journey the road to independence.
On Monday staff, clients, government officials and members of the media gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new Integrated Stroke Strategy Rehabilitation Unit in the city.
The Integrated Stroke Strategy is a pilot project that focuses on decreasing the incidence and impact of stroke through integration of stroke education, prevention, rapid treatment and rehabilitation services.
The program is located in the Jowsey House wing of the Yorkton and District Nursing Home and the adjacent Cornerstone Therapies. Because of this project, the Sunrise Health Region (SHR) is now able to offer continuity of services in a convenient central location with local access to a full range of stroke care professionals, thus eliminating the need for costly and inconvenient travel to Regina or Saskatoon.Clients now have coordinated access to in-patient and outpatient nursing, occupational, physical and speech language therapy and social work. Additional benefits include reduced travel expenses for patients and increased access to family support and encouragement.
"You took me from someone who could barely walk to someone who could walk almost as good as before the stroke," said Everett, a local patient who will soon return home after in-patient care in the Rehabilitation Unit.
"I have experienced a complete treatment for my stroke, right here in Yorkton."
This past Monday, Saskatchewan's Minister of Health, Don McMorris and representatives of the partner agencies gathered with staff and clients of the program to celebrate the success and potential of the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit component of the pilot project.
"The Ministry of Health was pleased to provide $1.6 million to the Sunrise Health Region Integrated Stroke Strategy pilot project over the past two years which included a partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan," said McMorris to those in attendance.
"This government is committed to improving patient care at all levels in Saskatchewan's health system. Pilot projects like these give us an opportunity to understand first hand the needs of our clients, patients, and family members in order to provide the best level of care possible."
Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and is the third leading cause of death in Saskatchewan. Each year in the province more than 2,200 people experience a stroke, 75 per cent of whom, are left with a mild to severe disability and require early access to integrated stroke rehabilitation.
"The Foundation anticipates that this state-of-the-art stroke rehabilitation centre will demonstrate that stroke patients achieve better outcomes when their rehabilitation therapies are delivered much earlier and much closer to home where they have the support of family and friends," Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan CEO Lucy Buller added.
"We are committed to a province-wide integrated stroke strategy and this pilot project is the first step towards that."
The SHR hopes to reduce anxiety and debilitation for the more than 100 stroke patients treated by the region each year. The pilot continues to evolve and ongoing adjustments will occur as the region learns from the clients how best to meet their needs.
"The Sunrise Health Region is extremely proud to be involved in this pilot project," concludes Suann Laurent, interim CEO for the SHR.
"We are grateful for the resources provided by the Ministry of Health, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan and through local donations to The Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan. Those resources are making a difference today and will continue to make a difference as we share our experience with the rest of Saskatchewan."
