The practical, emotional and physical impact of having a stroke and living with its consequences has been laid bare in new research.
Thirty per cent of survivors aged under 60 said having a stroke cost them their job, with six per cent of people saying their situation led to them losing their home.
Nearly a quarter – 23 per cent – said their stroke had a negative impact on their relationship with their partner, with almost one in ten of the 3,500 people surveyed saying stroke had led to the breakdown of their relationship.
Sixty per cent of stroke survivors aged under 50 say they have never emotionally recovered from their experience, which compares to 44 per cent for older people.
In terms of physical recovery, half of all survivors say they feel they continue to live with consequences.
The study, from the Stroke Association, gives insight into the huge challenges survivors face in all aspects of their lives.
It also found that hope is a crucial factor in recovery, with 76 per cent of people saying it played an important part in them being able to rebuild their lives.
While a quarter of survivors say they began to feel hope in the first month after their stroke, for 22 per cent, it took more than a year.
The importance of small and huge milestones in recovery was highlighted in the research, with 17 per cent of people saying their first moment of hope came when they were able to use their affected side for the first time, and 11 per cent said it was being able to speak again – whereas for 15 per cent of people, it was being able to complete a small everyday take like making a cup of tea.
But for 13 per cent of people, they admit to never feeling hopeful after their stroke, showing the sad reality that many survivors face.
The Stroke Association is a key supporter of stroke survivors, and helps them to rediscover the hope needed to rebuild their lives through specialist services including a helpline, peer support service, support groups and support coordinators.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “Every five minutes, someone in the UK will have a stroke and in a flash, their life is changed.
“Two thirds of people who survive a stroke find themselves living with a disability. The physical impact of a stroke is severe, but for many, the emotional aspects of coming to terms with having a stroke are just as significant.
“As the research makes clear, finding hope is a crucial part of the recovery process. Without it, recovery can seem impossible.
“At the Stroke Association, we support and help people to find this hope, and rebuild their lives. But with 1.3million people and rising in the UK now living with the effects of a stroke, our services have never been more stretched. We urgently require the support of the public to help us continue to support stroke survivors to rebuild their lives.”
