|
Paul Berger & Stephanie Mensh's
Stroke Survivor
News & Attitude
For YOU
November 2006
=======================================
~~~<<~~ IN THIS ISSUE ~~>>~~~
November is National Family Caregivers Month
1. NEWS: Research on Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation: Evidence on Constraint Therapy for Paralyzed Arms
2. PAUL’S SURVIVORS TIPS: Successful Job Interviews with Stroke & Aphasia
3. STEPHANIE'S CAREGIVERS TIP: Help Survivors Celebrate National Family
4. PAUL'S FAVORITES: Arm Support For Computer Users
5. NEWS: Stroke Story in Popular Comic Strip
6.Conquer Stroke Tool Kit
7..WHAT'S NEW on: http://www.StrokeSurvivor.com:
8. Stroke Reading Problems? Free Read-aloud Software
9. Subscribe
============================================
Please forward this newsletter to your friends and
colleagues who would benefit from these tips.
============================================
1. NEWS: Research on Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation: Evidence on Constraint Therapy for Paralyzed Arms
Results from a new, comprehensive NIH-funded study of 222 stroke survivors from 7 centers have been published in the prestigious "Journal of the American Medical Association,"(JAMA) showing that two weeks of intensive constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) promises significant and long-term functional improvement in the use of the paralyzed arm, for certain stroke survivors.
In CIMT, the survivor performs a series of repetitive exercises for many hours with the paralyzed hand and arm, and forces their use by having the survivor wear a large mitt on the good hand all day.
For a summary of the study, visit the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website, click here.
For the article, visit the November 1, 2006, JAMA page, click here.
For additional resources to help you find information on medical, health, rehabilitation, recovery, self-empowerment, and more, we have collected our favorite links, click here.
2. PAUL’S TIPS FOR SURVIVORS: Preparing for a Job Search After Stroke
Celebrating during the holidays can be difficult for survivors who lose their jobs after the stroke, like me. Over the years since my stroke, I have had a number of different part time and full time jobs. With a little creativity, a good attitude, and hard work, you can find a new job. Don't give up.
Here are some of my tips for success:
* Think about your job before the stroke. Why were you interested in that job? Can you find those interests in another job? For example, I was always interested in building and city development. When I lost my speech, I couldn't do my old job for the city housing department. Eventually, I returned to school to learn computer drafting and worked for many years drafting blueprints for office buildings.
* Think about your current skills and learn new ones. Volunteering is an excellent way to learn new skills, especially clerical, accounting, customer service, and sales. Having the use of one hand means you will be slower than two-handed people, so plan for extra time or fewer activities.
* Talk to a career counselor at your local community college to explore jobs you haven't thought about. Community colleges have many programs for people of all ages to build new skills and train for new careers. They also have services to help people with disabilities take classes. And, they have contact information for state and local job placement and employment agencies.
 3. Stephanie’s Tips for Caregivers: Help Survivors Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month
Over the years since Paul’s stroke, I’ve rolled my eyes every time I heard the advice that family caregivers need to take care of their own health needs -- when was I supposed to have time to do that?
Celebrating National Family Caregivers Month is a good reason for the survivor do a few special things for the caregiver:
* Please respect my need for quiet time. When I’m reading or watching my favorite show on TV, please don’t talk to me or ask me to fetch you a glass of water.
* Learn how to do as much as possible for yourself, and around the house. It’s okay if you are slow, or not perfect, or can’t do it the same way you did before your stroke. Each thing you do is one less thing that I have to do.
* Do little things to show you appreciate me. Say
"thank you," blow me a kiss, give me a hug, a backrub or foot rub.
* Find something funny or happy or inspiring to share with me to make my day brighter.
These would be nice all year!
For more tips for caregivers, please visit, click here.
4. PAUL'S FAVORITES: Arm Support for Computer User
Since I can't use my right hand, my left hand does double duty, especially on the computer. During my years of work drafting blueprints for buildings using AutoCAD on the computer, I developed tendonitis in my good left arm. Today, I do a lot of my work on the computer--research, writing, email, and maintaining the StrokeSurvivor.com website.
I use an articulating arm support to reduce the stress on my left arm. It clamps easily onto my computer desk, and is sturdy and durable: the ErgoRest® Articulating Arm Support and Mouse Pad ErgoRest® Wide Clamp for Mouse Pad.
For details, click here.
For other Paul-tested helpful products, click here.
5. Stroke Story in Popular Comic Strip
Coping with aphasia (loss of speech) is one of the themes acurately portrayed in a new story line on Grampa Jim's stroke, in the popular nationally-syndicated comic strip, "For Better or For Worse," by Lynn Johnston. The November 8 strip showed the common frustrations that many stroke and aphasia survivors face every day--Grampa Jim's wife treating him like a child, and when he tried to protest, the only sound he could make was "Ta," which his wife interprets as "thank you," instead of his real meaning, "Stop it!"
For more, visit the comic strip's website, click here.
6. Conquer Stroke Tool Kit
Paul's CONQUER STROKE TOOL KIT can help you cope with your stroke. It features the book, "How to Conquer the World With One Hand...And an Attitude," plus solution-packed articles (3) and newsletters (3), plus the handy 3-in-1 magnifier-bookmark-ruler -- great for phone books, maps, small print on bottles (and people won't know you're using a magnifier!), plus the aphasia-friendly check-writing-tip-card (fits into your check book), and more.
It's a great holiday gift.
Details at, click here.
============================================
INSPIRATIONAL SPEECHES & PRACTICAL TIPS TO SUCCEED!
Do you want to maximize stroke recovery and be motivated to regain a fulfilling life? Learn first hand by bringing Paul and Stephanie to your organization.
Call us for your next program, conference, convention, seminar, workshop, or sales meeting. We provide personalized presentations and workshop services. Email us at: Paul@StrokeSurvivor.com, call 703-241-2375, or visit, click here.
For details of our presentations at Harvard, click here
To hear an excerpt from one of Paul's speeches, click here
============================================
7. WHAT'S NEW on the Stroke Survivor.com web site.
We're adding helpful new things to our web site all the
time. Coming soon to our "Ask the Experts" questions &
answers page: Using Soap with One Hand, click here.
8. Stroke/Aphasia Reading problems?
After a stroke, many people have reading and other language
problems, known as "aphasia." Hearing a sentence read aloud
helps to understand it. You can hear this newsletter read
aloud while each word is highlighted on the computer screen
with the FREE text reader software.
9. SUBSCRIBE
Welcome to our online newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy each month, please sign up by completing the blue form on the right.
~~<<>>~~
Copyright (c) Paul E. Berger & Stephanie Mensh
Permission is granted to reprint these articles
in your newsletter or magazine only with the following byline:
"Paul Berger & Stephanie Mensh are speakers and authors.
To find out more about their programs and services,
visit www.StrokeSurvivor.com
or call (703) 241-2375."
|
