Thibodaux Regional Implements Stroke Education Program

The Rehabilitation Center of Thibodaux Regional recently implemented a stroke education and prevention program for stroke patients and their families called "Starting Now."

Starting Now will consist of five consecutive one-hour group sessions conducted on the Rehabilitation Unit and is designed to provide the information patients need to prevent secondary stroke. This will be accomplished through a combination of instruction and informational materials.

Stroke is one of the nation’s leading causes of adult death and disability and costs the United States more than $30 billion annually. Surveys on stroke awareness, however, have revealed that among American adults age 50 and older, 38 percent do not know where in the body a stroke occurs and 19 percent are unaware that there are things you can do to help prevent a stroke.

Stroke is literally a "brain attack" and occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is interrupted by a blocked or broken blood vessel, killing brain cells in the immediate area. When brain cells die, the abilities that area of the brain control are lost or impaired. Knowing the warning signs of stroke is critical to minimizing its effects. New treatment advances can help reduce disability, but only with immediate attention. Throughout the Starting Now program, rehabilitation professionals will continually reiterate the symptoms of stroke and the importance of seeking emergency medical care.


Everyone has some stroke risks and some are uncontrollable, such as age or family history. Part of the focus of Starting Now is on teaching patients how to identify their manageable risks and make simple lifestyle changes to help reduce recurrent stroke.

The program also will educate patients and families on the physical and cognitive effects of stroke, the types of treatment, and how caregivers can assist in the recovery process.

The Rehabilitation Center of Thibodaux Regional provides comprehensive rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies, to patients who have experienced stroke and other debilitating injuries or illnesses.

For more information on Starting Now please contact the Rehabilitation Center of Thibodaux Regional, (985) 493-4731.

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