FOR three decades the Tamworth Stroke Recovery Club has been helping people get back on their feet after a stroke.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The group celebrated its 30th birthday this week, which also happens to be Stroke Awareness Week.
President Nancy Hall said the group "helped survivors rebuild their lives after a stroke".
"You have to learn to change the way to do things, because you may be left with a disability or a speech impediment," she said.
Over the years, the support group has raised money for the Tamworth Stroke Unit, the hydrotherapy pool and a serenity garden where patients have their speech therapy.
Asides from support and fundraising, the group takes the socialising pretty seriously, hosting regular events, birthday lunches and day trips.
"The idea of the social gatherings is simply, because some people don't like meetings, but they'll come to the events," Ms Hall said.
Stroke Recovery Association's Jon Blackwell said there were about 70,000 strokes across the country every year, so it's important to know the warning signs.
"Things like a droop at the side of lips, a facial droop, paralysis of an arm, blurred vision, headaches," he said.
"If someone thinks they are having a stroke, they need get to the hospital as soon as possible. The quicker you get treatment, the better the outcomes."
Mr Blackwell said support groups like the Tamworth branch were incredibly important for those recovering from a stroke, "because whole lives are changed in a nanosecond".
"When someone's had a stroke, they can have some physical disability or speech difficulties," he said.
"They can quickly become isolated from the community. So the idea of a club is to make sure people get mutual support."
Stroke warning signs
- Sudden numbness in face or limbs
- Sudden vision problems
- Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
- Sudden difficulty walking or dizziness
- Severe headache with no known cause