Statement from The Stroke Association in response to report from Joseph Rowntree Foundation on care home investment.

Each year in England and Wales over 120,000 people over the age of 60 have a stroke. Stroke becomes much more common with advancing age and has a greater disability impact than any other condition. This means many elderly stroke survivors often have to move into care homes so that they can receive help with the often long-term practical, physical and emotional difficulties they face whilst coming to terms with their strokes.

The Stroke Association believes that all stroke patients, regardless of age, should have access to the highest standard of care from initial diagnosis right through to recovery and rehabilitation. This latest report unfortunately confirms that care homes are still unable to provide the standard of care that elderly patients have the right to receive; indeed in some cases councils are still unable to provide means for care homes to provide a minimum standard of care.

Notes to editor

1. Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

2. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

3. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person

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