To the editor:
The Kelowna Stroke Recovery Club is an organization that has been active in our community since 1981. A member of the Stroke Recovery Association of B.C., we are a non-profit organization that works closely with anyone recovering from a stroke.
Our goal it to enable individuals to live as well and independently as possible. The tangible results from the branch include increasing self esteem, lowering incidence of depression, maintaining a plan for recovery, reducing the dependence on acute care beds and preventing admission to long term facilities where possible.
A stroke is an affliction of the brain that is sudden in onset and causes weakness or paralysis of one side of the body and other, with possible symptoms such as loss of sensational disorder.
Doctors refer to a a stroke as a cerebral vascular accident or hemiplegia. The most important key to survival is your own mental attitude.
After a stroke most peoples’ lives change so drastically that they do not want to go back into the public. Although there are many changes the picture is not always gloom and doom.
This is where the Stroke Recovery Club comes into the picture. The Kelowna club is a support group for victims of stroke, their spouses and families. The program consists of exercise, lunch, then activities every Thursday. We have educational programs, informative speakers, caregivers meetings, mental aerobics, crafts, discussion groups, bowling, a speech maintenance program as needed and much more.
We raise funds by having a craft, bazaar and bake sale twice a year and we also receive donations from some service clubs in our community.
I have been with the club for 32 years and its co-ordinator for 24 of those years. I am the liaison between the hospital, health unit, rehab and doctors on our members’ behalf. I will visit anyone affected by stroke in their home when requested, before they come to the club and will give informative talks to any organization.
HandiDart can be arranged to pick up those who cannot drive.
Call me at 250-763-0556 or email evabart@telux.net.
Eva Bartee, co-ordinator,
Kelowna Stroke Recovery Club
Meetings are held every Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, 380 Leathead Rd., Kelowna.
