Michigan Stroke Program — Community Awareness

Financial assistance, rehabilitation, community services, and caregiver support for stroke survivors and their families.
 

Recovery & Rehabilitation Resources

American Stroke Association — Recovery Resources for Patients
www.stroke.org/en/life-after-stroke/stroke-rehab/recovery-resource-page-for-patients
Stroke Family Warmline: 1-888-4-STROKE (1-888-478-7653)

Includes the “Hope: The Stroke Recovery Guide,” survivor recipes, and an online community for survivors and caregivers.

National Aphasia Association
www.aphasia.org/
800-922-4622

Nonprofit promoting public education, research, rehabilitation, and support services for people with aphasia — a common post-stroke communication impairment — and their families.

Community Services

Michigan 211
www.mi211.org/
Call 2-1-1 or 844-875-9211, or text your zip code to 898211.

Connects Michigan residents with food, housing, health insurance, mental health care, and other local community services and support.

Administration for Community Living — Community Resources
https://acl.gov/

Federal agency overseeing support groups, health services, and educational materials for people living with disabilities.

Caregiver Support

The Stroke Foundation — Caregiving Fund
www.thestrokefoundation.org/find-support/caregiving-fund

A companion program to the Stroke Survivor Fund, offering financial support aimed at caregivers of stroke survivors.

Family Caregiver Alliance
www.caregiver.org/
800-445-8106

National nonprofit (501(c)(3)) providing information, tools, and support for families and friends providing long-term care at home, including a network of Caregiver Resource Centers.

Caregiver Action Network — Stroke Caregiving
www.caregiveraction.org/strokecare/
Caregiver Help Desk: 855-227-3640

Support, tools, and guidance for caregivers of people who have had a stroke, with a dedicated stroke-caregiving resource page, promoting the well-being of both caregivers and those they care for.

Caregiver Wisdom
www.caregiverwisdom.net/

A peer-to-peer community, support groups, and coaching for caregivers of people with debilitating chronic illness. Its core focus is myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), long COVID, and related conditions, but the founder notes much of the content resonates with other caregivers, too, including stroke caregivers.

Financial Assistance

American Stroke Association — Financial Impact of Stroke
www.stroke.org/en/professionals/stroke-resource-library/post-stroke-care/patient-focused-rehab-resources

Guidance on managing the cost of living with stroke, part of the ASA's patient-focused rehabilitation resource library.

The Stroke Foundation — Stroke Survivor Fund
www.thestrokefoundation.org/find-support/stroke-survivor-fund

A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering direct financial assistance for physical, occupational, speech, vision, and music therapy when insurance benefits have run out. Applicants can apply every six months, up to two times.

Patient Advocate Foundation — Connect With Services
www.patientadvocate.org/connect-with-services/
800-532-5274

National 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free case management for insurance denials and medical debt, plus a Co-Pay Relief Program, financial aid funds, and a National Financial Resource Directory to search for additional help.

“Financial Help For Stroke Victims: Grants & Benefit Guide” (Growing Family Benefits)
www.growingfamilybenefits.com/assistance-stroke-victims/

A general informational article rounding up nonprofit, local, and hospital-based aid programs. It's a third-party guide rather than a direct service provider, so verify any specific program it names before referring a patient.

Veterans Services

VA Disability Compensation
www.va.gov/disability/
1-800-827-1000

Monthly tax-free payments for veterans with a service-connected disability, including stroke-related impairments. Applicants can file a claim online through VA.gov.

VA Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services
www.rehab.va.gov/pmrs/

VA's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services, offering individualized rehabilitation plans — including stroke rehab — for veterans and active-duty service members.

VA Caregiver Support Program
www.caregiver.va.gov/
Caregiver Support Line: 855-260-3274

Clinical services and support for caregivers of veterans enrolled in VA health care, including the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (education, respite care, mental health counseling, and a monthly stipend for eligible caregivers).

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA)
www.michigan.gov/mvaa
1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838)

State agency connecting Michigan veterans and their families to benefits and services, including the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund for temporary financial emergencies and help locating a local Veteran Service Officer.
 

Directory of Stroke Support Groups in Michigan: Recovering from a stroke is difficult, and it can take time — sometimes weeks, months, or even years. The recovery process is different for everyone, and it can be a difficult time for stroke survivors and their caregivers. Stroke support groups can help make the process easier by providing a safe place to talk about your victories and your challenges with people who understand.
 

Stroke Connection, a Free Magazine for Stroke Survivors and Their Families
Are you a stroke survivor? Is a family member or friend? If you answered, "Yes" to either of those questions, you may be interested in Stroke Connection e-news, a free, monthly digital publication from the American Stroke Association written for stroke survivors, their families, and other advocates.

Learn more about Stroke Connection and sign up for a free subscription at www.stroke.org/en/stroke-connection.
 

Please Note: The following content is defined as archived material pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II, § 35.104 and § 35.201. It is provided for historical reference only and, as such, may not meet accessibility standards.
 

Join Us in Promoting Stroke Awareness

The MiSP Community Awareness Initiative was adopted from the work done by St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital (now Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital) and St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital (now Trinity Health Livingston Hospital) to promote a uniform stroke awareness message. The colors blue and silver, as well as the F.A.S.T. message, were selected to brand materials as being associated with stroke awareness. The color blue recognizes acute stroke victims, and the color silver represents the more than seven million stroke survivors.

To date, community awareness materials created for the initiative include a fact sheet, a stroke awareness pin and t-shirt, and a seven-day pill organizer. Other states funded by the CDC Coverdell grant have agreed to utilize some of these materials to expand the reach of this initiative.

We invite you to become an ambassador for change in your community and support our efforts to recognize stroke as its own disease. Please wear these emblems and ribbons proudly to help raise stroke awareness. For more information, please contact the MiSP team at MDHHS-Stroke@michigan.gov.

 
MiSP participating hospitals are helping spread the word about the initiative by distributing the promotional materials to staff, local stroke survivors, and community members via mail and during special events and recruitment and site visits.

Here's an excerpt from an email sent by the stroke coordinator for Henry Ford Hospital following successful use of the new materials during a recent World Stroke Day event:

"Thanks again for dropping off the t-shirts and pins! They were a big hit. We went through all our t-shirts, which were earned by completing one of the Mad Libs with a FAST message embedded that the American Stroke Association created for World Stroke Day. We educated over 100 people in 2.5 hours, relaying the importance of recognizing stroke signs/symptoms and getting emergency assistance, and we heard some incredible stories from stroke survivors and family members. A good day overall!"

Another Detroit hospital distributed stroke awareness pins and t-shirts during an emergency medical services (EMS) appreciation event. The following is from the thank you message we received from the hospital's stroke coordinator after the event:

"Thanks again for dropping off the t-shirts and brain pins! We had about 30 EMTs stop in for our appreciation event yesterday, and they LOVED the shirts and pins - even more than I anticipated they would! We were also able to educate them on our extended time windows for stroke treatment, the importance of 'time = brain' and the difference between 'time symptoms started' and 'time last known well.' We had some great conversations!"

For more information about the MiSP Community Awareness Initiative and how you can order stroke awareness pins, t-shirts, pill organizers, and other materials, contact the MiSP team at MDHHS-Stroke@michigan.gov.