Volunteer for stroke patients
Volunteers trained to help stroke patients
03/13/2014
In North Rhine-Westphalia volunteers are being trained in a pilot project to support stroke patients in their everyday lives. This should complement the medical care of those affected.
In Germany, the help for stroke patients is so far unique
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) volunteer helpers are being trained in a pilot project, who want to support patients who have suffered a stroke in their everyday lives. As the Foundation German Stroke Help announced on Wednesday, thereby the medical care of those affected will be supplemented. The project is scientifically accompanied by the Bochum University of Health (HSG). As HSG professor Kerstin Bilda said, this combination is so far unique in Germany.
The use is not intended to replace the medical care of stroke patients
From the end of March, a series of training seminars will be started for around 20 volunteers, including those in Bochum, Münster and Dortmund. From June to December, there will be a six-month practical assignment. The volunteers should thereby help stroke patients in everyday life, fill out forms, make applications or just talk to those affected. „Many sufferers are looked after and cared for by people from their environment. But the care of stroke patients leads to relatives or acquaintances to overload and social isolation. Here it is important to create relief“, so Bilda. The mission is not about replacing medical care.
In the optimal case, training should continue after the pilot phase
The initiators want to arrange the volunteers in cooperation with clinics and hospitals. If you need support, you can also contact the Foundation German Stroke Help. The project should be evaluated scientifically by the university after the end of the test phase. The pilot project will be funded by state grants and the EU Regional Development Fund. As Foundation spokesman Mario Leisle explained, the training of helpers in the best case should go beyond the pilot phase. But this is only possible with sustainable support.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Germany
According to estimates, around 270,000 to 280,000 strokes occur annually in Germany. More than 60,000 people die every year. Thus, the stroke is the third leading cause of death after cardiac and cancer diseases in this country. Because women have additional risks of stroke, they are also generally more affected. Risk factors for both sexes include smoking, high alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, overweight (obesity) or lipid metabolism disorders. But women also have additional risks, such as birth control pills, migraines with aura, which is more common in women, or diabetes type 2, which only increases the risk of stroke in women, according to a recent study. (Sb)
Picture: Rike