New study into stroke caregiver training programme
25 April 2006
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has awarded a £1.2m grant to look at the effectiveness of a new training programme for carers of stroke patients. The research is a first step towards a national roll-out of the programme.
The MRC is funding researchers at the University of Leeds and King’s College London who will study the mental, physical and social effects on 300 patients and carers who have been through the structured training programme over more than three and a half years. The programme will ensure that carers have the knowledge they need in order to understand the effects of stroke and the skills required to cope with its consequences.
The leader of the study, Dr Anne Forster, of Leeds University and St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford said: “There is no standardised training offered to people who suddenly find themselves having to care for a loved one who has suffered a stroke. This means that the current level of training and support depends on the resources of the hospital where the patient happens to be. It’s thought that having an approved structured programme will increase the confidence of carers to look after the patient and will be better equip them to cope with their new role and this research will test if that’s true. Hopefully this study will help to inform the way health professionals work with carers and patients in the future.”
Dr Forster added: “Stroke is the single most common cause of severe disability in the UK. Once patients leave the hospital, it often falls on the family to provide them with the continued daily care. This can often be an overwhelming experience and caregivers don't always receive the level of support and training to ease the burden this new role poses.”
Joe Korner, Director of Communications at The Stroke Association comments: "Many stroke survivors and their families often feel completely abandoned when leaving hospital. The burden of care can be very great, and families will often want to care for a stroke survivor at home rather than opting for institutional care. The vast number of these carers do so with little or no support.
It is vital that training in caring for stroke survivors is addressed and that carers receive the adequate knowledge, skills and support to cope with this often sudden change of circumstances.”
Notes to editors:
- what a stroke is
- the specific problems associated with the person they will be looking after: speech, mobility, memory, diet and swallowing, vision and reading, washing and dressing, walking etc.
- the chance that their recovery won’t be complete
- possible personality and mood changes
- how to manage and provide support for personal and daily living activities
- safe transfers, safe mobility, what to do following a fall, safely assist in climbing stairs, use of aids
- how to communicate with the person if their speech has been impaired
- the importance of making sure the person takes their medication
- post discharge recommendations and where and whom to ask for help
- the importance of healthy life style and prevention advice
