Supporting Well-being After Stroke: A Framework for Care That Supports Well-being

Abstract

[Background to the Framework] Well-being is important for living well and flourishing after stroke. However, a focus on well-being is not routinely integrated into stroke care, resulting in it being a leading area of unmet need following stroke (Stroke Association, 2015).

This framework was developed as part of the study “Psychosocial well-being after stroke: A study of care practices and processes in Aotearoa New Zealand”. This study explored: -How people experience well-being after stroke in Aotearoa New Zealand. -How stroke care practices can influence well-being. -How services and care might change to more consistently support well-being.

While stroke survivors and whānau in this research described some pivotal events in care that influenced their well-being, it became clear that well-being was influenced by a myriad of ‘small moments and small actions’ woven throughout their experience of stroke services. This framework aims to make these ‘small moments and small actions’ visible, and to illustrate how services could “do things different” as we were prompted by stroke survivor, Poihaere Morris (Ngāti Awa).

The framework aims to foster a proactive approach to supporting well-being after stroke, offering examples of actions that may be considered by policy makers, educators, service leaders, and individual healthcare professionals to prioritise well-being in stroke care.