1. Peers Fostering Hope Supported by the Dr
Peers Fostering Hope Supported by the Dr. Ed & Bobby Yielding Fund for Stroke Recovery
Your visit

2. What do we want to accomplish?
The re-engagement and re-integration of stroke survivors into the community.
Persons with stroke need to feel that they are not alone. Despite being on a stroke unit with other people who have experienced a stroke, they feel alone. They don’t feel as though their life has any meaning. Your presence will help to alleviate a lot of the fears that they are experiencing and can offer reassurance that there is life after stroke, that they can live successfully in the community.

3. How will we accomplish this?
Peer Visitors
(Hospital)
Providing…
Support
Encouragement
Hope
Community
Re-engagement/
Reintegration
-From initial contact to provide hope, then to let them know that there are support groups in their community. By being part of the group, they will also be supporting others. As group members can give back by bringing other survivors in and giving them hope

4. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Special Populations of Stroke Survivors
Survivors living with aphasia, paralysis, visual impairment, etc. require heightened level of sensitivity, awareness and skill
The following are general/standard stroke friendly Peer Support Guidelines only.

5. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
All peer support activities conducted in a confidential and respectful manner
Avoid imposing religious, political and medical beliefs & views
Confidentiality is important. Peers should not be sharing names or any patient information with others outside of the hospital.
Should a patient speak about putting themselves at risk or harming themselves or others, the peer has a duty to report this to the staff on the unit.
Why do you think its important to avoid speaking about religious, political and medical beliefs and views?
What if someone starts speaking about God and asking your thoughts on this? What would you say? How might you redirect the conversation?
If someone speaks about their faith as a way to cope, you may not agree with it however it is good to let them express themselves.

6. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Preparing for the visit
Visit only when you are well
Understand expectations of PFH (ie. visit promptly; provide SRC packages; based on condition of stroke survivor; obtain contact information; report monthly information to the volunteer coordinator)
Its important that you not do any visits if you are feeling unwell. You are asked to get in touch with the contact person on the stroke unit to let them know if you will not be in.
You can provide the patient with information on how they might connect with peer programs once discharged from the hospital.
You will are asked to report your volunteer hours to March of Dimes on a monthly basis.

7. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Respect and observe hospital rules
Visiting hours
Keep noise level down
Wear an ID badge
Good hand washing and isolation precautions
These rules and guidelines will be discussed as part of your hospital orientation.
You should always have your ID badge visible and introduce yourself to the peer.
It’s important to note that you should not be visiting any patients who are on isolation precautions.

8. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Checking in and Checking out
Check in with the volunteer department to sign if (if required by the organization)
Meet your contact on the unit prior to your visit
Track the number of people you’ve seen (no names)
Check out with main contact on the unit if there are any issues that came up.
The contact on your unit will be able to provide you with any pertinent information about the patient you might need to know prior to your visit.
Check out can be done in person if the staff is available, or over the phone or .

9. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Visit structure
Greet survivor and/or family member
Introduce yourself and let them know why you are there
Take time, sit down and visit
never sit on the bed or with your back against a window
Listen intently and focus on the survivor
Try to put a person at ease by commenting first on everyday things
Show interest in the survivor by asking about their stroke (if they ask about your experiences – keep details brief as this visit is about them) key phrases “I remember how frustrating it was . . .”
“I understand how you feel . . .”

10. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Visit Structure con’t.
If survivor asks “how long will I be like this?”
“No one can say exactly how long, as every stroke is different; but if you have a positive attitude and work hard, recovery may come more quickly.”
“You may need to learn to do things differently but you may still be able to do those things.”

11. Be aware of the surroundings
Privacy
Distractions
Adaptive aids (glasses, hearing aids)
Privacy – are there other people in the room or nearby?
Distractions – are there distracting activities going on around you?
Adaptive aids – does the person with stroke have what he or she needs to communicate such as hearing aid, glasses or communication board

12. Be in tuned to the person
Their mood (being distracted, pain, fatigued)
Medical stability (emotional, cognitive)
Other people/staff visiting
Their body language
Other appointments
Other?
What do you think it means?
Why is this important

13. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Communication : Message(s) from one person to another
Ways to communicate
Voice
Eye contact
Facial expression
Body language (arms crossed, leaning in)
Distance
Pacing
Remember: Individuals from cultures different than our own may communicate differently.

14. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Listening:
a skill that requires patience
Stop talking
Be attentive
Be aware “ We learn more from listening
Empathetic than from talking”
Do not interrupt
Do not be judgmental
Do not give advise
Allow anger to be expressed (by the survivor)
Allow silence

15. Stroke Friendly Peer Support Guidelines
Thoughts of Encouragement
There is always hope; never give up keep trying
It’s not helpful to compare ourselves to others
Don’t expect too much too soon
Exercises that seem very simple help recover function
Set realistic SMART goals that you can reach
Imagine Hope Believe . . .

16. Questions?