Life roles

Each person plays many roles in life.

Each person plays many roles in life. Your roles may include being a:

  • spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent, or friend
  • student, volunteer, employee, or employer

After a stroke, it is normal to question whether you will be able to fulfill these roles again. You may wonder if you will be able to take part in your usual activities and support your family as you did before.

The stroke will also have an impact on your family. As your role changes, the roles of family members may need to change too.

With time, your daily routines and life roles will adjust to suit your strengths and abilities.

If you are having difficulty adjusting, it can help to talk to:

  • your health care team
  • other people living with stroke and their families
  • a therapist

Having read the information in this section, consider the following

  • Has there been a change in my day-to-day roles since my stroke (for example: taking care of children, doing things around the house or at work)?
  • Do I know where to get advice so I can continue my roles or learn about new roles?
  • Do I need to learn new strategies and skills to manage day-to-day?
  • Can I get back to work, volunteer or to school?
  • Do I need work retraining? (also see the section on return to work)
  • Have my relationships with my partner, children, family or friends changed?
  • If answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, do I know who to talk to or how to get help?

Where to get more information, help and support:

March of Dimes Canada – After Stroke Program
Call the Warmline at 1-888-540-6666
Toronto Central Healthline