Facilitator Training to Prevent Stroke in Your Community

1. Facilitator Training to Prevent Stroke in Your Community Presented by Emmett Consulting On behalf of the Self-Help Resource Centre With thanks to Erin Gilgan and Jennifer Poole

2. How to reach us • Self-Help Resource Centre • www.selfhelp.on.ca • 1-888-283-8806

3. Agenda – First section • History of the project • Goals of this training and this phase • Learning about stroke • Preventing stroke • The role of facilitation in stroke prevention

4. Background of the project • The Self-Help Resource Centre • Phase I of this project • Developing resources and training manuals • Phase II of this project • Partnerships and programs • Three communities • Community partnerships • Stroke prevention activities • Long-term sustainability

5. Goals for this training • Stroke education • Facilitator preparation • Activities brainstorming

6. Goals for facilitators - you • Solidify the knowledge you already have • Help you choose an activity that suits your personality and interests • Discuss facilitation strategies and tips • Help you plan and carry through an activity

7. Learning about stroke • Stroke – the Basics • Warning Signs • Preventing Stroke – what can we do?

8. Stroke – the basics • What is a stroke? • Loss of brain function • Blocked or burst blood vessel interrupts blood supply to brain • Can affect ability to talk, move, understand • Can affect moods, personality, memory

9. Risk factors for stroke • Uncontrollable risk factors • Age, family history, gender • Controllable risk factors • Diet, exercise, smoking, high blood pressure, stress

10. Warning Signs Appear suddenly, may have one or more signs: • Weakness/numbness in arm, leg or face (usually on one side of body) • Loss of speech or trouble understanding • Sudden, severe, unusual headache • Loss of vision or blurry/double vision • Loss of balance/dizziness

11. A stroke is a medical emergency! Get help – call 911 or local emergency services. Every minute counts.

12. Preventing Stroke – what can we do? • Healthy eating • Regular activity and exercise • Quit smoking, avoid second-hand smoke • Limit alcohol • Maintain healthy blood pressure • Address stress • Support ourselves and each other

13. Healthy eating • Eating healthier foods lowers risk of many diseases • Fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, lower-fat meats and dairy, non-meat proteins • Less processed food • Slow down and enjoy food

14. Healthy eating cont’d • Moderate sweets, fats, salt, etc. • Enjoy many different foods – mix it up! • Learn to listen to your body and eat only when you are hungry • Use Canada’s Food Guide • Don’t diet – try for healthy eating instead

15. Regular activity and exercise • Make physical activity part of every day • Ideally 30 minutes per day minimum • Small, frequent amounts do stack up! • “Working out” is not the whole story • Try a variety of activities • Add a social element

16. Exercise – so many benefits • Increases bone density • Regulates blood sugar • Reduces stress hormones • Reduces blood pressure • Maintains healthy body weight • Reduces arthritis symptoms • Enhances alertness and mental function • Decreases risk of falls • Regulates mood • Adds energy!

17. Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke • Exposure to smoke increases stroke risk • People smoke for different reasons • If you smoke, quit or cut down • Avoid second-hand smoke • Quitting smoking takes practice, planning, support and persistence • It’s worth it; the damage is reversible

18. Limit alcohol intake • Moderation is key • Protective effect of alcohol can be achieved with only one drink every other day, or through other means • No more than 2 per day, women no more than 9 per week, men no more than 14 per week

19. Maintain healthy blood pressure • High blood pressure is a MAJOR risk factor for stroke • HBP is “the silent killer” – no symptoms • Stresses artery walls and heart • Have your blood pressure checked regularly • “Healthy lifestyle” factors help maintain healthy blood pressure

20. Address stress in your life • Stress is a normal part of life; everyone has it • Positive and negative stress • Stress results from external events and factors + how we react to them • Stress can add to risk of stroke and other health problems • What can we do to help cope with or manage or reduce stress?

21. Getting and Giving support • Having support from families, friends and communities benefits health • Increases chance that healthy lifestyle efforts will be sustained • Share information, experiences, ideas – the essence of self-help • Can also seek support from professionals

22. Discussion • What are we doing to prevent stroke and chronic diseases in our lives? • What do we wish we could do (or do more of?) • What would help us do it? • How could these ideas translate to Stroke Prevention activities?

23. Next: the role of facilitation in stroke prevention • Introduction • Steps to facilitation • Being a facilitator!

24. How to reach us • Self-Help Resource Centre • www.selfhelp.on.ca • 1-888-283-8806