Mercè Ayesta, coordinator and nurse, from Fundació Ictus in Catalonia, tells us about their ABRIC programme to support people after a stroke, and making sure people do not feel lonely.
Fundació Ictus is a stroke support organization working in Catalonia that was established in 2007. The foundation works to promote research and awareness about stroke and to support people who have experienced a stroke. The team at Fundació Ictus work to provide the best service and care possible to people who have suffered a stroke, as well as their caregivers, their families and their circle of friends.
A flagship programme of Fundació Ictus is ABRIC. In Catalan, ABRIC means coat and this programme is intended to act like a coat. Proving people with comfort, support, a wrap around, an embrace, giving them warmth!
We know that when people have experienced a stroke, everything has to begin again and your routine changes. Stroke survivors and families have to relearn many things, adapt to a new situation and look for new motivations. There may be huge things that have to be reorganized such as home adaptation, stopping work or making adaptations to return to work. Caregivers also may need support at this time to adjust and adapt to the changes that may have taken place with their role in the family.
The objective of the ABRIC programme is to guide and advise people who have experienced a stroke, as well as their families, caregivers, and people around them, free of charge. With this programme our multidisciplinary team will accompany people from the moment they are discharged from the hospital and throughout the post-stroke stage to make sure that after a stroke, no-one is alone!
The programme provides initial post-discharge support, an assessment of areas where people may want support, shares information and delivers educational sessions. We start off with survivors of stroke or family members completing a form online. We then have a welcome meeting and then develop a support plan together. The support plan may include types of information needed, educational sessions, joining group or individual meetings, signposting to other services. These services might include financial advice, back to work programmes or home adaptations.
There are four specialisms within our team. Aswell as myself, a nurse, the team includes Marta Garcia a social worker, Roser Boza a rehabilitation doctor, and Berta Vallés a neuropsychologist. We provide:
In 2021-23, 1164 people accessed our programme – 680 survivors of stroke and 484 caregivers. 98% said that they would recommend the programme to others.
Feedback on the ABRIC programme from service users has indicated that the programme has provided the right information, support and all around care that was very much needed.
We are very proud of receiving amazing feedback that people have felt less lonely. That was and will be ABRIC’s main goal!
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