First Houston Stroke Survivors
Conference

“Surviving Stroke: The Journey Together” is Houston's first conference for stroke survivors, their families and health care professionals who work with stroke survivors. It is scheduled for April 1st at the Gulf Coast United Way Building, an easily accessible, attractive new building with lots of parking that is centrally located in Houston.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Dr. Judi Johnson, a nurse and consultant for her company, HealthQuest. The focus of her consulting is on the psychosocial aspects of living with chronic illness.

Judi is internationally known for having co-founded the “I Can Cope” patient education course used by the American Cancer Society. Following her stroke in 1991, Judi’s interests expanded to include adaptation following stroke. She holds a part time position as Stroke Wellness Co-coordinator at North Memorial Medical Center’s Stroke Center. With a grant from the American Stroke Association (ASA), she co-developed the stroke education course, which the ASA has incorporated into their Peer Visitors Program. The stand-alone education course is known as StrokeWise and is offered in several sites within Minnesota. Discovery Circle, a stroke support group program of the National Stroke Association (NSA) was co-authored by Judi. She serves as one of the leaders of North Stroke Center’s monthly Discovery Circle meetings. Judi and two other members of the support group authored the Stroke Survivors Bill of Rights. She has received numerous awards, research grants, published extensively, has authored three books and is a speaker nationally and internationally. Judi serves on numerous boards and committees of cancer and stroke-related organizations, has held the position of full professor at the Health Science University in Hokkaido, Japan, and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN. She represents stroke survivors nation-wide as a member of the Rehabilitation Advisory Board of the National Stroke Association. Dr. Johnson will be doing two presentations at the April conference entitled, “Walking a New Path” and “The Art of Loving.” We are very excited to welcome Judi to Houston to this very first conference for stroke survivors, their families and health professionals who care for them. See below for more information on how to register for this event.

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Save The Date Houston's first Center on Aging "Surviving Stroke:  The Journey Together" Date:  Saturday, April 1, 2006 Time:  8:30 am – 3:30 pm Where:  United Way of The Texas Gulf Coast 50 Waugh Drive* Houston, TX 77007 *At the corner of Waugh & Feagan. The Conference will include: • A presentation by Dr. Judi Johnson, a 14-year stroke survivor who is a national and international advocate for the rights of stroke survivors. • Updates on new approaches to prevention and treatment of stroke. • Premiere of our video with local stroke survivors and their spouses talking about their experiences Conference Information: A total of 6 CEUs will be offered in Nursing, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, or Social Work. Cost: • Stroke Survivors, Families, Students, & General Public = $25.00 • Special Caregiver Couples Rate (Stroke Survivor +1) = $35.00 • Professionals = $75.00 Scholarships for free admission & transportation are available. Please Contact Dr. Sharon Ostwald | 713.500.9940 Download Conference Information: Registration Form | Conference Schedule | Map & Directions For more information contact Joyce Randolf | 713.500. 9167 or visit our website at http://uthcoa.org/

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Spotlight Bob & Claudia Lakey	This month we are happy to feature one of our earliest participants in the CAReS research study – Bob & Claudia Lakey. They have been involved with CAReS since 2002.
For 25 years and counting, Bob and his wife have owned an international marine consulting firm that provides services to the LNG, LPG, and chemical transportation industries under the name Robert J. Lakey and Associates (RJLA). Bob experienced his stroke on a business flight from Houston to London in January 2002 and was initially treated at St. Thomas Hospital in London before being transferred to Hermann Hospital in Houston . After hospital discharge, Bob continued outpatient therapy at Health South and at TIRR. With Claudia's assistance, Bob has been very conscientious about changing his lifestyle – eating healthy low-fat food, taking his medications regularly, following a regular exercise program at a nearby gym, and learning to manage his stress. They are always willing to give back what they have learned to others. Bob and Claudia present a class on the impact of stroke to occupational therapy students, work with physical therapy students, and are a part of a new video on couple's experiences recovering from a stroke. The video will be premiered at the upcoming stroke survivor's conference, “Surviving Stroke: The Journey Together.”
The 10 Ts 1) Ten:  Count to 10 before speaking, acting or reacting. 2) Tone:  Keep your tone of voice pleasant, cheery, and friendly; speak directly and clearly to the stroke survivor. 3) 'Tude:  Keep a good, positive, loving attitude. 4) Temper (noun):  Don’t loose your temper; don’t show anger or frustration; don’t raise your voice or yell. 5) Temper (verb):  Temper your realism with maybes; “let’s see” etc. instead of saying straight ‘no’ all of the time. 6) Tender:  Be tender, giving more than usual hugs and kisses; be gentle when working with the stroke survivor; praise rather than criticize. 7) Time:  Take plenty of time when working with the stroke survivor; don’t rush through chores, meals, baths, exercises, etc. 8) Toons:  (as in cartoons or loony toons) Make silly little jokes out of bad situations to lighten the atmosphere. 9) Tunes:  Sing little rhyming tunes to get the stroke survivor to laugh, even though the tunes are really silly. Stop if this aggravates survivor. 10) Toodle-oo:  Say bye-bye, time-out, toodle-oo for a few minutes to calm down when either you or the stroke survivor gets upset, frustrated, or angry. ~ By Claudia Lakey	Claudia Lakey said, “Joining the CAReS project was the first decision we made after Bob's stroke that would impact our lives in a very positive way. From the very beginning, Sharon Ostwald was our ‘doctor, nurse, and psychologist' – all in one. Bob was very confused by what happened and why and was very depressed over his inability to return to work. Sharon answered his questions in a very kind and caring way and tried to ease the pain of his depression – namely, ‘the world is just passing me by.' She also helped me to know how to address Bob's mood swings and anxieties and was a good listener when I needed support.” The Lakey's also had opportunities to work with other members of the CAReS team. Claudia continued, “ Carolyn Kelly, a physical therapist with CAReS, was of great assistance in teaching us both how to manage day to day problems, such as Bob getting up from a fall, walking up the stairs to his office, etc. Another CAReS staff member, Gayle Hersch, an occupational therapist, also had many good suggestions – one of which was for me NOT to dress Bob because it was faster, but to let him do it himself even if it took longer, allowing him to be independent in dressing himself.”
She concluded, “The whole CAReS team was extremely wise, caring and loving. I don't think we would be as far along in our ‘recovery' if we hadn't been part of this very important project. We thank Sharon and her team for their valuable assistance in dealing with this life changing event and helping us ‘get on with our lives' with a very positive outlook.” During the first year after Bob's stroke, Claudia often felt overwhelmed trying to care for him and keep their consulting business going. Upon reflection of her struggle to be a “good caregiver” she wrote “What I Wish I Had Learned in a Caregiver's Class” or “The 10 T's (Ten, Tone, ‘Tude, Temper, Temper, Tender, Time, Toons, Tunes, Toodle-oo). It is printed here with her permission. Thanks, Claudia, for sharing your suggestions!

The CAReS Program
Center on Aging

6901 Bertner, 6th Floor
Houston, TX 77030
www.uthcoa.org
Phone 713.500.9931