Feeling isolated

Man looking out of a windowThis may not apply to you but some people may feel very alone after stroke.

If you feel very isolated, is this because you are not satisfied with the people around you, or because there are not enough people around you?

Stroke groups, fitness classes, volunteering and befriending schemes can all be a good way to meet new people.

For more advice please talk to the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Advice Line Nurses on 0808 801 0899.

Something to think about

Are there friends and relatives you’ve lost touch with?
Would some of them be pleased to hear from you? Let’s see how Richard got on.

Summary

Hello, it’s John here again.

As we’ve learned so far, SelfHelp4Stroke is designed especially for people like you and I.

By working through the website you can learn ways of coping and be able to then set goals to help you manage your life following your stroke.

Let’s see how taking a new approach to your life and setting goals will help you. 

Gita – Doing more around the house

Goal setting plan

1. What is my goal?
I need to do more around the house
Where am I at just now?
Date: 17 January
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
3. My action list
By when?
Do the washing and drying up, the laundry, vacuuming and dusting
In 2 months
4. How am I doing?
Date: 14 March
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
5. What’s next on my list?
Wash and dry up ✔
Laundry ✔
Dusting ✔
Vacuum the stairs

My goal was to do more around the house. Now I’m managing to wash and dry the dishes and do my laundry, but the vacuuming is still a bit of a challenge. I can only do a bit at a time, and I need help to vacuum the stairs. Using the goal planner helped me feel like I’d achieved something.

Gita

What Betty did next!

It might help you to know what I did… Select the arrow keys to find out.

View text alternative

Scene 1: Well… I finally came clean to my family and explained to them that they were asking too much of me.  I told them that in time, yes I would like to do all of the things they are inviting me to, but right know I have to focus on me and taking small steps.

Scene 2: I showed my daughter my planning list I was working on to get back to my wee lunch club. I think when she saw how much thought went into planning something, that before my stroke I thought nothing about, she realised that she was asking a lot of me.

Betty’s planning list:

What does Betty want to do? – Get to the lunch Club
Problems Identify them
  • Getting to the loo on time
  • Seeing all my friends again – might be overwhelmed
Prioritise What can I do something about? Both things
Plan Your first steps I know there is a easy access loo at the restaurant, will have to remind myself where it is
Prepare for the event Will ask my daughter to come with me the first time for a bit of support
Ponder What worked for me?
  • Support from my daughter.
  • The routine – knowing that we meet there every week makes me more comfortable with things

Scene 3: She is much more understanding, as is my son. They check my list with me and offer suggestions to help. Always scouting about for the nearest loo for me!  I had better buy a hat. I might get to that wedding after all!

View audio text alternative

“Well… I finally came clean to my family and explained to them that they were asking too much of me.  I told them that in time, yes I would like to do all of the things they are inviting me to, but right know I have to focus on me and taking small steps.”

“I showed my daughter my planning list I was working on to get back to my wee lunch club. I think when she saw how much thought went into planning something, that before my stroke I thought nothing about, she realised that she was asking a lot of me.”

“She is much more understanding, as is my son. They check my list with me and offer suggestions to help. Always scouting about for the nearest loo for me!  I had better buy a hat. I might get to that wedding after all!”

Key point

Sharing your planning list with friends and family can help to enlist their support.

What’s in my area?

3 Replies

Are you aware of whats in your area? Select your region below to find out what’s available. If you see anything you like, go ahead and give it a try!

Ayshire & Arran

North Ayrshire
Website: Active North Ayrshire
Tel: Active North Ayrshire Team on: 01294 605128

South Ayrshire
Website: Activity for Health
Tel: Activity for Health Officer on 01292 269793.

East Ayrshire
Website: Community Heath Improvement Project
Telephone: 01563 576427/01563 576723
Email: [email protected]

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Borders

NHS Borders and Borders Sport and Leisure work in partnership with the aim of improving lives, health and wellbeing through physical activity programmes.
Website: Sport, leisure and outdoors

There is also a Lifestyle advisor support service that will direct to suitable activities
Website: Lifestyle Advisor Support Service

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Dumfries & Galloway

There are a range of sport and leisure services throughout Dumfries and Galloway such as sports halls, swimming pools and gyms to help you keep fit. There are some exercise groups that are suitable for people who have had a stroke.
Website: Dumfries & Galloway Council Leisure Facilities

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Fife

There are exercise classes across Fife that are lead by fitness instructors who are experienced in working with people who have had a stroke.
Website: Active options

Telephone: Active Options 2 Health and Well being co-ordinator: 03451 55 55 55 (ext. 402281)

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Forth Valley

NHS Forth Valley – Get Active Your Way offers suggestions on how to get active and detail services in
Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk.
Website: Get Active Your Way

Stirling
This area offers an exercise referral scheme Active Living for Life which can be suitable for people who have had a stroke. The area also has a range of exercise facilities that are listed in Active Stirling
Websites: Active Living For Life
Active Stirling

Falkirk
Active Forth is the physical activity referral scheme for Falkirk District. It is a scheme where your GP, physiotherapist, rehabilitation specialist or other medical professional can refer you to take part in a structured physical activity programme for 12 weeks
Website: Active Forth
Tel: 01324 590900

Clackmannanshire
This area can access physical activity referral schemes (Active Living for Life in Stirling and Active Forth in Falkirk). Clackmannanshire Healthier Lives community based programme offers support and advice to people in Clackmannanshire to help them make changes that can improve their health and wellbeing .
Website: Clackmannanshire Healthier Lives
Tel: 0845 6731774 X 3063 / 01259 450000
Email: [email protected]

All Forth Valley areas:
CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Highland

Individualised exercise programmes can be arranged at Leisure centres throughout the area.
Website: Highlife Highland
Tel: 01349 860813

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Grampian

Moray
This area has a Health Referral Programme which includes exercise classes which may be suitable for people who have had a stroke. The Council also offers Be Active Life Long (BALL) groups.
Website: Moray Health Referral Programmes
Be Active Life Long
Email : [email protected]
Tel: 01343 56709

Aberdeen
Aberdeen Council – Leisure & Community Life lists facilities and classes that may be suitable for you.
Website: Leisure & Community Life

All areas:
CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Live Active exercise referral scheme and Vitality exercise classes are available across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Website: Live Active & Vitality

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Lanarkshire

North Lanarkshire
Website: North Lanarkshire Leisure
Tel: 01236 341709.

South Lanarkshire
Website: South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture
Tel: 01698 476119

All Areas:
CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Lothian

Exercise after stroke programmes are available throughout the Lothian area.
East Lothian
Website: Active East Lothian

Edinburgh City
Edinburgh Leisure offer an exercise after stroke programme
Website: Exercise After Stroke

Mid Lothian
Website: Mid Lothian Active Choices

West Lothian
Website: West Lothian Leisure

All Areas:

The Thistle Foundation is a Scottish Charity which offers exercise based lifestyle management programmes suitable for people who have had a stroke.
Website: Thistle Foundation

Exercise After Stroke Information
Website : Lothian Stroke MCN

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Orkney

Leisure facilities are available
Website: Pickaquoy
Tel: 01856 879 900

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Shetland

Following physiotherapy lead 4 week exercise programme you can be referred on to an exercise after stroke class at a leisure centre. Contact the Physiotherapy Dept, Gilbert Bain Hospital for more information. 01595 743323

Website: Shetland Recreational Trust

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Tayside

There is an eight week stroke exercise group that covers the whole of Tayside which includes input from a stroke nurse, physiotherapist and specialist instructors. After this you can be referred to groups in your local area.

Perth and Kinross
Website: Live Active Well-being Classes

Dundee
Website: Leisure & Sport information

Angus
Website: Angus Alive

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Western isles

The Western Isles Health Promotion department provide a range of support via exercise programmes which promote health and wellbeing amongst the older population.

A Health Improvement Project provides health information and links to local support groups.

Website: Older People Western Isles
Website: Leisure Services

CHSS stroke groups:
Find out about what stroke groups are in your area.
Website: CHSS Community Stroke Groups

Other activities:
Call the CHSS Advice Line to find out about any other suitable activities in your area.
Free phone: 0808 801 0899

Something to try

Have you seen anything you like? Go ahead and give it a try. Remember you can always call the CHSS advice line free on 0808 801 0899 as classes may change from time to time.

Conclusion

3 Replies

Hopefully, you will have found some useful hints and tips that could help you reach your goals, whether you want to do more around the house or get out and about.
Now that you have started, lets look at how to move things forward. The next section will help you do this.

Conclusion

Hi It’s John here again.

Managing your tablets can be very tricky, especially if you are not used to doing this. Hopefully this section has helped you understand this and you feel more in control, however always speak to your GP or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

If you think you might be having side effects, or, if you are thinking about stopping your tablets – talk to your GP or pharmacist first. I always do.

What Others Can Do

Talking and sharing always involves at least 1 other person. Therefore it is probably best if you get them involved in any goals you set to improve your communication. Remember to share your bill of rights with others.

This is not always easy and you may have some doubts, but it will help in the long term.

To tell or keep to myself!
Couple seated on the sofa looking at a bill of rights

View text alternative

Illustration of 2 people on sofa looking at the bill of rights and a thought bubble coming up
Lady: Thinks: “I hope I don’t come across as stupid but I think it will help make him understand”.
Man: Says: “Thanks for sharing this, this really helps”, Thinks: “If only I’d known how she was feeling’.

Something to try

Why don’t you try sharing your Bill of Rights with the people you communicate with?

Richard’s story

Goal setting plan

1. What is my goal?
To speak to more people
2. Where am I at just now?
Date: 10 April
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
3. My action list
By when?
Go to the local communication group
Meet sister for lunch
Call my closest friend Bob for a chat
1st meeting on 14 May
Next week
Two weeks
4. How am I doing?
Date: 30 May
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
5. What’s next on my list?
Go round to Bob’s house
Get back in touch with the leader of the community council
Go to the supermarket

istock_7723618
Remember earlier Richard talked about his isolation, let’s see how he used goal settings to help with this.

Download the goal setting plan [.pdf, 51 KB]

We saw that Richard needed help resuming contact with people, this next section explores asking for help in a bit more detail.