Oct 17, 2024
Have you or someone you love experienced a stroke? Now is your chance to make your voice heard!
We are excited to announce, for the very first time, a new abstract category at the European Life After Stroke Forum designed specifically for those with lived experience of stroke.
Whether you are a stroke survivor, a caregiver, or someone close to a stroke survivor, this is your opportunity to share your insights and strategies with others. Our goal is to provide a platform where your voice can inspire, inform and empower others
We are inviting submissions with the chance to present a 10-minute oral presentation or a poster presentation at the event in Prague.
Why submit?
- Share your experience and make a difference in the stroke recovery community.
- Help others by sharing strategies and insights based on your personal journey.
- Contribute to a growing body of knowledge about life after stroke.
Key details:
🗓️ Submission deadline: 15 November 2024
📅 Forum dates: 10-11 March 2025
📍 Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Click here to find out more
Sep 23, 2024
We are delighted to let you know that the General Assembly in June elected Hariklia Proios as our President for a second term. Hrvoje Jurlina was elected as our new Vice President. Congratulations!
Read what their ambitions are for the coming years.
Hariklia Proios, SAFE President
What is your background?
I’ve spent the last 25 years of my life working to support people affected by stroke, something that has taken me across both the U.S. and Europe. My background is in speech-language, and I am a professor at the University of Macedonia and recently I am also at the CSD department at Adelphi University in New York.
The most rewarding part has been creating and running support groups wherever I go. It’s been such a privilege to work with people from all walks of life, helping them navigate the challenges that come with life after a stroke. I’ve also had the honour of serving as President of SAFE for the past three years. Working with our incredible team to advocate for stroke survivors has been a really rewarding experience.
What is your vision for the future of SAFE?
Looking ahead, my vision for SAFE is simple: I want to keep fighting for stroke survivors. My goal is to ensure that no matter where they live or what resources they have, every stroke survivor gets the care, support and respect they deserve. The disparities in stroke care across different European countries are heartbreaking – some places provide incredible support, while in others, people are left to navigate recovery on their own. That’s something I’m determined to work to change.
We have already made great strides towards this with our work on the Stroke Action Plan for Europe and our Life After Stroke Forum. In the next chapter, we need to build on this work with our member stroke support organisations, working together to deliver campaigns, advocacy, research and raising awareness.
Hrvoje Jurlina, SAFE Vice President
What is your background?
I am a doctor of Family Medicine at a Community Health Centre in Zagreb. My professional journey took a profound turn ten years ago when, at the age of 39, I experienced a stroke at work. That moment became a catalyst for my commitment to improving the needs of stroke survivors, as well as the needs of their families and caregivers.
Five years later, my father suffered a massive stroke and I became his primary caregiver until his passing ten months later. This experience reshaped my perspective on stroke, not just as a survivor, but as someone who intimately understands the emotional, physical and logistical challenges faced by caregivers.
I was recently appointed as Vice President of SAFE and serve as Second Vice President of the Croatian Stroke Society. These roles allow me to merge my personal experiences with my professional expertise, offering a unique, three-dimensional perspective on stroke care and advocacy.
What is your vision for the future of SAFE?
My vision for the future of SAFE is to continue being the strong voice for stroke survivors, advocating for improvements within healthcare systems to ensure comprehensive recovery. We aim to educate about care options and empower stroke survivors and their families by advocating for their rights. SAFE holds a unique position with our ability to unite all the key players, healthcare providers, social services, patient advocate groups, and the families of stroke survivors, into a coordinated and collaborative approach to post-stroke care. I believe that with continued advocacy and collaboration, we can create a healthcare environment that supports stroke survivors through every stage of recovery, offering them not just survival, but a meaningful quality of life.
Jul 23, 2024
The European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) has launched a new survey to assess and quantify the invisible issues affecting neurology patients and caregivers in Europe.
The aim is to identify, measure and report on these invisible issues (for example pain, stigma, fatigue) as faced by those affected by neurological conditions, either as patients or caregivers. Data generated through this survey can be used to create awareness of these issues and to advocate for change to address them.
This survey is open to anyone over the age of 18 who is living with a neurological condition, or who is carer to someone living with a neurological condition, that resides in Europe. It is available in 8 languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Polish and Romanian.
Findings from the survey will be published on the EFNA website later this year, and included for presentation at the next meeting of the MEP Interest Group on Brain Health and Neurological Conditions.
The survey will be open until 30/08/2024.
Click to respond to survey.
Jul 9, 2024
We are pleased to announce that our third in-person European Life After Stroke Forum in Prague is now open for registrations and abstract submissions.
The Forum is a unique event where healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and those affected by stroke can come together to address the issues of life after stroke. Our programme will be filled with the latest research and best practice, with the voices of people with lived experience at its heart.
We are actively seeking abstracts in two categories:
1. Scientific abstracts – share your stroke-related research, whether it’s ongoing or completed.
2. Services abstracts – have you developed innovative practices in life after stroke? It’s your opportunity to showcase your experiences and inspire others with your ideas.
Submission deadline: 7 October 2024
May 22, 2024
We are pleased to announce that the third in-person European Life After Stroke Forum will take place in Prague on the 10-11 March 2025.
The Forum is a unique event where healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and those affected by stroke can come together to address the issues of life after stroke. Our programme will be filled with the latest research and best practice, with the voices of people with lived experience at its heart.
Abstract submissions and registrations will open in July, sign up to our ELASF newsletter here to be the first to receive more details.
May 16, 2024
Did you miss the European Life After Stroke Forum or want to learn more after attending? Here is a summary of our Forum highlights:
- Abstract book: The book of abstracts features all the accepted abstracts, including oral, scientific and service submissions. Download Abstract Book
- Speaker slides: Access the event presentations from our speakers. View Speaker Slides
- Event report: Download the event report to get a comprehensive overview of the Forum’s sessions and activities. Download Event Report
- Event photos: View a selection of photos from the event here.
May 15, 2024
A story of denial, consequences and a wake-up call
Imagine a typical morning drive to a meeting in Padua, Italy. That’s where it all started for me, just another day, or so I thought. But a strange feeling in my car’s steering wheel set off a chain of events I never saw coming. I wasn’t feeling great that morning, but I brushed it off as just a bit of flu. Even when I started feeling dizzy and my leg went numb, I kept telling myself it was nothing serious. It wasn’t until I struggled to speak during a meeting that I realised something was seriously wrong.
I let someone else drive me to my next meeting. I got home and had dinner. I was feeling worse by the minute. Despite my wife’s pleas, I refused to go to the hospital. I was convinced I could tough it out, even though deep down, I was scared that I had had a stroke. You see, my sister-in-law had a stroke a year earlier, so I knew the symptoms
I said to myself ‘I’m living a very healthy life anyway, I do sport, I haven’t smoked for years, so I certainly don’t have any problems’, but I understood, even if I didn’t want to admit it, that something ‘big’ had happened. I had stopped taking all the pills my doctor had prescribed a while ago, statins, aspirin and blood pressure pills and I had a very busy job that regularly kept me away from home, eating in restaurants.
The next day, things only got worse. Finally, I gave in and went to the hospital. That’s when everything changed. Turns out, I’d tried to ignore my stroke, thinking I was both Rambo (I was angry, but this was not going to get me) and Peter Pan (I am not even fifty – I am too young for this). From that moment on, life changed, not only for me, but also for my family.
My message to you – one thing is certain; you know when something very bad is happening to you. Recognise it, know it! You don’t have to pretend you don’t notice or that you are superior. If you don’t have time to stop for a check, fate will stop you. Ignoring warning signs and thinking you are too young or too invincible only leads to trouble. Listen to your body and take care of yourself!
By Claudio Mari
May 14, 2024
The latest data from the Stroke Action Plan for Europe (SAP-E) Stroke Service Tracker (SST) shed light on Europe’s journey toward better stroke care and support. While there are positive signs of progress, the report also reveals persistent gaps and challenges, highlighting the continued need for nationally targeted interventions.
The SST, which examines 12 key areas of stroke care improvement, shows positive strides in meeting SAP-E targets and improving acute treatment, organisation and quality control of services. Several countries, including the Republic of Moldovia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and Wales are making commendable progress.
However, access to stroke unit care, follow-up and life after stroke services and support remains uneven. Disparities in care provision across regions underscore the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to quality care and support for all affected by stroke.
The data underscore the urgent need for national stakeholders to address these gaps. By leveraging this information, countries must implement tailored stroke strategies to ensure that everyone affected by stroke receives timely, high-quality care and support, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.
We urge all European countries to continue to harness the power of their SST data to bridge gaps in their stroke care. Let’s prioritise action and ensure every stroke patient receives the care they deserve. Read more here.
About SAP-E: The SAP-E is a collaborative initiative aimed at improving stroke care across Europe through research, advocacy, and policy development. By bringing together stakeholders from across the healthcare spectrum, SAP-E seeks to set standards and drive positive change to improve outcomes for individuals affected by stroke. Visit the website to find out more.
Mar 19, 2024
Thank you to all those that came to our event European Life After Stroke Forum (ELASF) in Dublin on the 11-12 March. We are delighted to have so many of the European Stroke Community come together to continue to improve Life After Stroke.
To view the abstract book, please download it here.
To view the slides from the event, please click here.
To register to be the first to hear about our 2025 event, please click here.
Mar 18, 2024
The Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE) and the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) today launch their joint EU MEP Election Manifesto 2024. For the elections in June we are asking MEP candidates to support improving health across the EU with a focus on improving prevention, care and support of those affected by stroke across Europe.
Every year, nearly 1.5 million people suffer a stroke in 32 European countries1. Stroke can be devastating – leading to death or life-long disability2, shattering the lives of victims and their loved ones. Those who survive will join the more than 9 million European stroke survivors who live with long term health, social, and financial impacts3.
The EU Non-Communicable Disease Initiative, Healthier Together, launched by the European Commission in 2022, provides opportunities for policy action that both EU-level and national policymakers should build on. We call upon all EU level policymakers, to prioritise stroke in health policies, to support member states to develop national stroke plans and lead research into the under-examined areas of stroke.
Following the principles of the Stroke Action Plan for Europe, SAFE and ESO are calling for the implementation of the following policy proposals:
Prior to a stroke
- Primary prevention and risk factor control
- Implement legislation for public health interventions
- Implement risk factor screening and treatment programmes
Amidst the stroke
- Quality of care and stroke management
- Ensure equal access to acute stroke care
- Establish a quality improvement system for stroke services
Life after stroke
- Prevent further stroke and take care of those who had one
- Implement post-rehabilitation personal care plans that offer non-medical support
- Provide sufficient secondary prevention services
- Guarantee equitable access to rehabilitation prior and post discharge
- Develop a European framework of reference for stroke care quality
- Empower a dignified life after stroke
Understanding stroke
- Provide sufficient research funding
- Improve stroke services with better data
- Encourage research into under-examined areas of stroke
References
- At what cost: The economic impact of stroke in Europe. University of Oxford for the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE).
- Sudharsanan, N., Deshmukh, M., & Kalkonde, Y. (2019). Direct estimates of disability-adjusted life years lost due to stroke : a cross-sectional observational study in a demographic surveillance site in rural Gadchiroli, India. BMJ open, 9(11), e028695.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028695.
- Wafa, H. A., Wolfe, C. D. A., Emmett, E., Roth, G. A., Johnson, C. O., & Wang, Y. (2020). Burden of Stroke in Europe: Thirty-Year Projections of Incidence, Prevalence, Deaths, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years. Stroke, 51(8), 2418–2427. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029606.
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