Association for rehabilitation of persons after stroke (CMP)

was founded in 1990 as a nonprofit welfare organization. The main goal is to provide support to stroke patients and their families after patient’s transition to home care and rehabilitation in the long term. The association has about 1300 registered members all over the Czech republic and there are 11 patient´s clubs in regions run by voluntary workers. The board of the association consists of patients representatives and health professionals engaged in the activities of the association. Several of the medical specialists are also involved.

Activities:

Stroke rehabilitation courses

The association provides 6 terms of holiday-like rehabilitation courses (approximately for 180-200 stroke patients a year) which take place in selected country resorts in Bohemia and Moravia. Each course is organized as a 14 days stay for 30 stroke patients who may be accompanied by their carers (mostly spouses). The main object is complex stroke rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of people affected by stroke. All patients have a medical assesment and have their rehabilitation programme. According to their disability patients are also divided into groups for exercise and other activities. All day programme includes:

1. 1/ individual and group physical exercise led and provided by physical therapists who help to restore muscle strength and joint function and other problems related to movement
2. 2/ individual and group occupational therapy helping to restore functions related to activities of daily living and if necessary to train using mobility devices and other special gadgets.
3. 3/ speech/language therapy to patients with problems related to cognitive or communication issues
4. 4/ counselling by a psychologist who conducts cognitive assessments of the patient and helps the patient and his family adjust to the disability.

The programme is carried out by a team of medical workers lead by a doctor (a neurologist or a physician). There are 2-4 physiotherapists, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist and a psychologist or a counsellor. The team works together towards a main goal. Each patient’s progress is observed and evaluated at the end of the course. Voluntary evening programmes consist of lectures on health or social subjects, memory training, various competitions, events like a ball-dancing, a carnival, a bonfire and an olympiad for groups of patients at the end of the stay. There is also one or two organized sight-seeing tours or walks to the countryside. Patients can spend two free afternoons with their visiting families or a friend.

Day CMP (Stroke patient’s association) clubs

are organized as a self help groups managed by health professionals. Clubs provide information and advice to patients and their carers. They run 2-4 sessions a month (depending on the number of members). Other activities are exercises, physiotherapy, speech therapy or counselling. Day clubs are important for social life and rehabilitation. Attending the club helps patients who returned home to cope with distress of the illness and to prevent loss of confidence. Lot of patients can become socially isolated and housebound. The Clubs provide a chance to meet people who have been through a similar experience. Talking to others can prevent depression and feelings of helplessness.

A Stroke patients newsletter ”Javor”

is published once or twice a year from 1996. It brings information on the association’s activities, articles written by medical professionals about treatment and prevention of stroke, about social aspects of stroke care and patient’s stories. The association tries to engage more patients into preparation of each issue.

Information services

are provided on telephone and on the association website www.sdruzenicmp.cz

Lectures or seminars

for general public are held every year. Their main purpose is to raise public awareness of stroke and its prevention. Politicians, media, social care and voluntary sector and potential sponsors are invited together with health workers. The last two seminars were held under a patronage of the Senate of the Parliament of Czech Republic.

An Information booklet

about stroke was prepared in colaboration with medical specialists and published by sponsors. It explains different types of stroke, its symptoms, medical assessment and treatment in hospital special units, post-stroke rehabilitation and rehabilitation in the long term. It provides basic information for stroke patients and their families, for workers in the primary care and voluntary sector.

“Project Kompas “

for vocational rehabilitation started in September 2006. The main objective is to help younger stroke survivors who want to return to work. Understanding their individual abilities should help them to find a suitable place on a job–market. Courses in computer training are proposed.