Group stroke sessions

The hardest thing at the start of my international placement was dealing with taking group classes for stroke patients; a group who could walk and a group where some couldn’t even sit without support. At first I stuck to my ways and kept thinking it would be so much better to use this time for one on ones but as I got drawn into the group atmosphere and the fact that in a country where people are hidden away if they have any impairments, a place to go and meet with people who are impaired like you is a massive moral booster. They encouraged each other, joked, socialised before and after class and even the most depressed patient who had given up at least did not get any worse and maintained what they had from the classes. I started to realise when you’re the only stroke specific organisation in the area with physios pretty much working as volunteers the best you can get is enough to keep your patients from deteriorating. Many exercises done for strengthening and balance can be done better in a group setting due to the motivation from other patients. I have realised what I have learnt does work very well for physical recovery but other things can also work and include the emotional side of healing from a stroke.