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Paul Berger & Stephanie Mensh's
Stroke Survivor
News & Attitude
For YOU
June 2010
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~~<<~~ IN THIS ISSUE ~~>>~~~
1. NEWS: RESEARCH on Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation: Depression: Canadian Studies on Survivors & Caregivers
* Celebrate June National Aphasia Awareness Month *
What is "Aphasia"?
2. PAUL’S SURVIVORS TIPS: People With Aphasia Can Speak Out!:
3. STEPHANIE'S CAREGIVERS TIPS: Managing Guilt
*** Intensive Aphasia Therapy News ***:
Paul & Bill at US Capitol Hill Briefing
*** Back to Work Tips for Stroke Survivors ***
4. PAUL'S FAVORITES: Alternative Brace for Foot-Drop
* International Aphasia Meeting, Montreal, Jun 27-29 *
5. WHAT'S NEW on: http://www.StrokeSurvivor.com
6. Stroke Reading Problems? Free Read-aloud Software
7. Subscribe
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Please forward this newsletter to your friends and colleagues who would benefit from these tips. Click it forward to people in your stroke club, volunteer groups, place of worship, community services and neighbors, too!
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1. NEWS: Research on Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation: Canadian Studies on Survivors & Caregivers
Two studies on depression were reported at the June Canadian Stroke Congress in Quebec.
One study showed that physical activity reduces depression among stroke patients. 53 out of 103 patients at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute participated in an added 35 minutes of therapy 4 times a week compared to the control group. The therapy provided non-intensive repetitive arm motions, part of the "Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP). Both patients in the regular rehabilitation group and the GRASP group were measured on a depression scale, with the GRASP group showing less depressive symptoms, as well as improvement in their arm function.
A separate study by researchers at the University of Toronto showed that adult daughters caring for a parent recovering from stroke were more likely to suffer depression than sons in similar circumstances. The quality of the family relationship before the stroke played an important role. The researchers noted that 62% of stroke caregivers are adult children caring for a parent, and family members seldom receive any training to provide care or mental health counseling to cope with the demands.
To read a summary of the studies, visit the Canadian Heart and Stroke Association's web page for the Stroke Congress, click here
For additional resources to help you find information on medical, health, rehabilitation, recovery, self-empowerment, and more, we have collected our favorite links, click here.
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* Celebrate June National Aphasia Awareness Month *What is "Aphasia"?
"Aphasia" is a medical word for problems with reading, writing, and speaking, usually resulting from a stroke or brain injury or tumor. Having aphasia is very hard because people think that you are not smart if your speech is bad.
June is National Aphasia Awareness Month. About 1 million people are living with aphasia.
To help people with aphasia, their caregivers, families and professionals make every day better, 3 new E-Books on stroke recovery are now available from Paul Berger, stroke survivor and award-winning author of "How to Conquer the World With One Hand...And An Attitude," with Stephanie Mensh, his wife/co-author, and StrokeSurvivor.com.
These E-books provide great practical solutions & motivational tips available now to download anytime, to any computer!
* "Conquering Aphasia & Stroke TODAY!"
* "Conquering Aphasia & Stroke for Caregivers"
* "Articles to Take With You"
Many thanks to our sponsors
* Bioness, Inc. http://www.bioness.org and
* Aphasia Solutions Network http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com
Excerpts, details, order/download your copies at, click here
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2. PAUL’S TIPS FOR SURVIVORS: People With Aphasia Can Speak Out!
I attended the National Aphasia Association's regional Speaking Out! conference in Washington, DC on June 12. There were 2 panel sessions where people with aphasia presented their tips on empowerment. Each speaker overcame their aphasia and their nerves to face the 100 people in the audience.
I was one of the speakers talking about a positive attitude. When I came home from the hospital after my stroke 23 years ago, I had only 10 words. My success comes from aphasia therapy and many hours of hard work each week
at home.
Here are my tips for giving a speech:
* I write a few notes on the topics for the speech
* I ask Stephanie to help with the grammar
* I read it aloud and underline the difficult words
* I learn new words and phrases that I can use in
everyday conversations
* I practice, practice, practice, practice!
* I ask for a microphone.
Every person with aphasia should set the goal to give a speech telling the story of their stroke and recovery. If I can do it, you can do it too!
These tips come from a 2-page article on giving a speech in my book, "You Can Do It! 105 Thoughts, Feelings and Solutions to Inspire You." See below for details on ordering this book.
Do you have a tip to share? Send it to me at
Paul@strokesurvivor.com for a free gift if we use it.
======================================== Stroke Survivors & Professionals Can Save Now!
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"How to Conquer the World With One Hand
...And an Attitude"
and
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Solutions to Inspire You"
Combination set #1 offers both books in paperback book format for a discount of $3.50 !!
Combination set #2 offers both books in audio CD format for a savings of $7.00 !!
Order your sets from our secure online store:
For details on these award-wining books and CDs, please
visit:, click here.
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 3. STEPHANIE'S CAREGIVERS TIPS: Managing Guilt
I attended a caregiver's session at the National Aphasia Association's Speaking Out! conference. The discussion quickly turned to the guilt that caregivers feel. One wife said she felt very guilty because she yelled at her husband. Guilt, anxiety, despair and other negative feelings are common, according to the social worker and psychologist participating in the session. They suggested:
* Don't treat the survivor like fragile china. Interact as adults and don't be afraid of hurt feelings. Try to work together to solve problems.
* Both the survivor and caregiver should recognize that the sudden change in your lives is traumatic, and you may be suffering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Seek counseling or mental health care.
* Caregivers carry a very heavy burden of extra responsibilities as well as stresses of fighting insurance, employers and health providers on behalf of the survivors. Therefore, it is likely there are items on the "to-do list" that will not get done. You have to change your perspective from feeling guilty about what was not done, to feeling satisfaction for the items you do accomplish.
* Don't let professionals, family members, or othe observers pressure you to do something you do not want to do or cannot do.
For more tips for caregivers, click here.
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*Intensive Aphasia Therapy News *
Paul & Bill at U.S. Capitol Hill Briefing
As the readers of my newsletter know, I am continuing speech therapy with Bill Connors at the Pittsburgh Aphasia Treatment, Research and Education Center (PATREC).
I am in Virginia and Bill is in Pittsburgh, but I see him 3 or 4 times a week over the Internet using my webcam on Skype or ooVoo, in individual and group sessions. I set my goals and the pace. I have lots of homework, most that I do alone on my own schedule or with a peer study partner.
This month, I was invited to demonstrate our online therapy. I was the "e-patient" for the E-Health Initiative's, "Briefing on Patients & Technology," part of the celebration of National Health Information Technology Week. There were over 100 health information technology policy leaders in the audience to watch my 3-minute speech and the 5-minute "tele-rehabilitation" demonstration with Bill. The Internet connection worked and we received many positive comments. For photos and details, click here.
My friends tell me they are impressed with my continuing
improvement. I enjoy Bill's innovative approach and tools
at http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com.
For a complimentary consumer Q&A fact sheet,
contact Bill Connors at bill@aphasiatoolbox.com or
phone 724-494-2534.
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4. PAUL'S FAVORITES: Alternative Brace for Foot-Drop
My stroke resulted in weakness on my right side, including problems with my ankle and foot, sometimes called "foot- drop." Over the years, I have tried different "braces" or "orthotics" on my right foot. My favorite is the lightweight Bauerfeind MalleoLoc Ankle Brace. It works with a system of straps and fits inside my shoe or sandal. The brace system costs about $90, and should be measured and adjusted by your physical therapist. Recently, I mangled one of the straps and was able to replace it with the MalleoLoc Strap Set with Liner for about $30.
For details on Paul-tested helpful products, click here and click her
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* International Aphasia Meeting, Montreal, Jun 27-29 *
Paul & Stephanie Deliver Paper at Poster Session
Join us at the 14th International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference in Montreal, Canada, from June 27th to 29th, 2010 at Le Westin Montréal hotel. In addition to research and other goals, the Conference promotes activities in social awareness of aphasia and developing approaches to support people with aphasia.
For details and to register, click here.
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5. WHAT'S NEW on the Stroke Survivor.com web site.
We're adding helpful new things to our web site all the
time. Coming soon is:
We have many useful links for survivors, families and professionals on rehabilitation, motivation, and to regain fulfillment posted to our Resource Links pages, click here
========================================*** ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE IN OUR NEWSLETTER ***
Contact us at Paul@strokesurvivor.com or 703-241-2375.
Special rates for newsletter & web: www.strokesurvivor.com!
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Would you like to view a previous month's newsletter? Visit our newsletter archive, click here.
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6. Stroke/Aphasia Reading problems?
After a stroke, many people have reading and other language problems, known as "aphasia." Hearing a sentence read aloud helps to understand it. You can hear this newsletter read aloud while each word is highlighted on the computer screen with the FREE text reader software.
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FIND INSPIRATION AND SOLUTIONS AT AT STROKESURVIVOR.COM
Stroke survivors, family, friends, professionals...anyone seeking inspiration, motivation, and more!
Find books, audio-books, tapes, and special tools created for stroke recovery by stroke survivor-expert, Paul Berger, click here.
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Make every day better for stroke survivors and caregivers with these great practical solutions & motivational tips available NOW to download ANYTIME, ANYWHERE !
EXCELLENT REVIEWS:
"I loved it! Paul's E-book is practical, informative, and easy to read. An uplifting, must-read for all stroke survivors with aphasia. It 's just terrific and I think it fills an important
void in the post-stroke literature."
--Susan Ryerson, Neurological Physical
Therapist, PT, DSc, Alexandria, VA
"I have been asking people for 30 years what helps and what doesn't work. I have recommended Paul's materials to my clients for years. This E-book adds new ideas and suggestions that are so very practical and useful."
--Bill Connors, Founder and Director of the
Pittsburgh Aphasia Treatment, Research and
Education Center
"The parts on getting out in the community were some of the best parts. It is important that stroke survivors try to live as normal a life as possible. This book lets stroke survivors recognize that they can have a quality life which is full and
fulfilled."
--Samuel Aylesworth, Stroke Survivor, Manassas, VA
"Stephanie's E-book is well written, logically organized, easy to understand, and full o practical suggestions that should be helpful and encouraging to caregivers of stroke survivors. I particularly liked the examples of Stephanie’s real-life experiences."
- Janet M. Gritz, MA, CCC-SLP, founding member & consultant to Montgomery County Stroke Association
"This E-book gives useful, practical advice from someone who's lived it. We're all overwhelmed at times, and Stephanie shows you, one step at a time, how to get through the day and make the next day better."
- Gwen Flanders, partner of a stroke survivor
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
(1) "Paul Berger’s Conquering Aphasia & Stroke TODAY!"
50 real-life, Paul-tested ideas, solutions and motivation for stroke survivors to return to everyday activities. Organized for easy-reading, with resource links. (44 pages in PDF) ONLY $9.95
* Hospital and coming home
* Solutions for all stroke survivors
* Conquering aphasia
* Enjoying recreation
* Returning to work
* Finding motivation
* Resources
(2) "Stephanie Mensh’s Conquering Aphasia & Stroke for Caregivers"
Get an intimate perspective on 7 key caregivers’ issues and solutions, tested in Stephanie's relationship & observed in others, with unique resources. (31 pages in PDF) ONLY $9.95
* Coping with Change
* How to Be Supportive While Building
Independence
* Building the Caregiver Team
* Time Management Tricks
* Money Issues & Caregiver’s Employment
* Living with Stress...Stress...STRESS !
* Care for the Caregiver
* How the Survivor Can Help the Caregiver
(3) "StrokeSurvivor.com Articles to Take With You"
Take this collection of 11 articles from our website with you, put in your notebook, & add your own notes & pages. (33 pages in PDF) ONLY $5.95
READ OUR E-BOOKS ON ANY COMPUTER. Easy PDF format accessible on all computers with Adobe Reade
Why wait for UPS or the postman to deliver? Order, download and read in minutes!
***Excerpts, details, ORDER your copies, click here
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7. SUBSCRIBE
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~~<<>>~~
Copyright (c) Paul E. Berger & Stephanie Mensh
Permission is granted to reprint these articles
in your newsletter or magazine only with the following byline: "Paul Berger & Stephanie Mensh are speakers and authors. To find out more about their programs and services, visit www.StrokeSurvivor.com
or call (703) 241-2375.
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