Actor Henry Winkler Shines in Caregiver Role with Faces of Stroke(SM) Campaign in Honor of National Family Caregivers Month

November Campaign Focuses on Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Henry Winkler, actor, director, author and philanthropist, is partnering with National Stroke Association to celebrate caregivers during National Family Caregivers Month this November.

Henry's mother suffered a stroke in 1987 and lived with the results for more than 10 years. Her challenges after her stroke included upper limb spasticity, a debilitating condition, which results in uncomfortable muscle stiffness and muscle tightness in the elbow, wrist and fingers. Even though she received extensive therapy, her recovery was minimal and very difficult. Henry watched as she struggled and lost her joy. To date, he feels his most challenging role was being a caregiver to his mother after her stroke. Henry has joined National Stroke Association's Faces of Stroke campaign to remind other caregivers about the importance of their role on the healthcare team. Watch a video of Henry talking about the campaign.

There are more than 65 million family caregivers in the U.S., each with a unique story. Caregivers and family members play a vital role in a stroke survivor's recovery. They're the ones who look after a stroke survivor's needs, which may be emotional, financial, physical, social or practical. Caregivers must strike a balance between taking care of both their loved ones and themselves. They must put their own needs first and protect their own health in order to provide their loved ones with the best care possible. Caregivers can find coping strategies through National Stroke Association's iHOPE: When Caregiving Is Stressful webinar or by connecting with more than 1,700 other caregivers at Careliving(SM) Community, an online community that provides a place for discussion, connection and support.

National Stroke Association launched the Faces of Stroke campaign in 2011, and has supplemented it with new mini-campaigns that delve into specific stroke topics, such as caregiving. Caregivers are—hands down—a vital piece of stroke recovery, which can last a lifetime. But their own health is often overlooked. "National Stroke Association wants to recognize and honor caregivers this month," said Jim Baranski, the organization's chief executive officer. "We hope to hear many more stories about how people of all ages and backgrounds take on this role, voluntarily and involuntarily."

"We believe that stroke survivors and those who play key roles in their lives have the power to influence healthy behaviors through storytelling," said Mr Baranski. "You just have to give them the opportunity. Anyone affected by stroke—no matter the connection—can have a role in raising awareness by telling their stories and sharing them with people they care about."

National Stroke Association's Faces of Stroke public awareness campaign aims to change the public perceptions of stroke through sharing personal stories. The Faces of Stroke campaign features an online gallery of hundreds of stroke champions' stories and photos, an easy-to-use online story submission tool, educational information about stroke and opportunities to share stories socially through Facebook, Twitter and email. Learn more about the campaign at www.stroke.org/faces.

About National Stroke Association

National Stroke Association is the only national organization in the U.S. that focuses 100 percent of its efforts on stroke by developing compelling education and programs focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for all impacted by stroke. Founded in 1984, the organization works every day to meet its mission to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke.

Press Contact: Taryn Fort
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303-754-0919

SOURCE National Stroke Association