Make May Purple / Action On Stroke Month is arranged by The Stroke Association and runs annually throughout May. The month is to raise awareness of Strokes and their impact on sufferers and their friends and families as well as educating the general public on the signs and symptoms of strokes, what causes strokes, what happens during a stroke and what to do in the event of someone suffering a stroke.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is an attack on the brain, it happens when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, causing death of that part of the brain, the effects of the stroke vary depending on which part of the brain is affected and how severe the stroke is.
Strokes can also cause bleeding on the brain. The effects of stroke can be permanent although some people make a very good recovery, and a sufferer is vulnerable to further strokes. Often care and treatment is needed, and in serious cases, hospitalisation is needed and a stroke can cause immediate death or death through subsequent secondary strokes.
What about driving after a stroke?
Following a Stroke, you cannot drive for one month. After that, driving is a possibility for many people. Here’s how Herts Ability can support you!
A full driving assessment to identify which physical adaptations to a car could counter any limb weakness.
Our highly trained Occupational Therapists and Approved Driving Instructors will work with you to identify the best method of car control.
You’ll get an opportunity to trial different controls.
Once a suitable method of car control has been identified, you might need some tuition, just to get you comfortable and confident.
The expert driving instructors at Herts Ability can help with that too!
Many people make a good physical recovery from their Stroke and don’t need any adaptations fitted to a car.
Just for peace of mind, a driving assessment will confirm that your brain has also made a good recovery.
Driving is one of the most cognitively heavy tasks we undertake.
Things might have changed for you but, a change in driving style may well counter those changes.
Once you’re back to independence, Herts Ability will help you communicate with the DVLA.
If you need a slightly longer break from Driving, the Herts Ability Hubs Mobility Advice Service can support you in completing those all-important journeys…
Herts Ability can help you every step of the way back to the independence that driving brings!
As our client Maciej Monczak can testify:
“Getting back on the road, driving, is a sign of progress in my rehabilitation.
Another win in this unbelievably hard battle to get back as close as possible to normality for myself and my family.
My advice for other people that have suffered a stroke would be “Don’t give up!”. Even the smallest steps count!
Oh, and don’t be afraid to reach out to Herts Ability as they will be able to help you with advice and will point you in the right direction.”
