Laredo Stroke Support Group Inc

Programs: Community outreach lssg began by making hospital visits in order to spread the word about life after stroke. At the visit, lssg provides a "care package" with some examples of healthy eating, information about our group and meetings, a place to write down appointments and a casual invitation to join the group. Since we started the hospital and rehab visits, we have met and integrated about 30 survivors and at least 50 other community members, and gained more insight into the local stroke community's needs. A "fellowship" has developed wherein the survivors feel comfortable sharing with one another and have taught each other to become more independent individuals through their own experiences. At our meetings we provide smart menu choices, informative speakers, private sessions to talk to others that are living through similar struggles, etc. With over 200 current stroke survivors in laredo, we continue to look for new avenues to get survivors out of their houses, less dependent of others, out of depression, (and back to becoming contributing members of society). Aside from our monthly meetings, we attend numerous stroke awareness fairs and other general health fairs throughout the year where our goal is to invite the community to participate in our group and free therapies (currently including yoga, tennis, and swimming). We provide a list of resources including doctors, therapists, caregivers, and other local services that we recommend.

therapies for stroke survivors (speech and physical) every stroke survivor's recovery and needs are unique, but most therapy falls into 3 main categories: speech, physical, and occupational. Our organization has partnered up with austin speech labs to bring affordable speech therapy to laredo. Our volunteers and office manager facilitate therapy sessions via skype, which allows us to decrease cost for the survivor, while continuing to offer quality therapy. Austin speech labs: laredo branch (ran by lssg), provides intensive speech and language therapy with boot camp sessions. These sessions are 8 weeks long except the one in november (six or seven weeks due to holidays). Clients receive one to three hours of therapy each day, twice a week, depending on individual needs. The clinician decides the number of hours and days during evaluation. Physical therapy is near and dear to our founder's heart. He was an avid cyclist, runner, biker, and all-around athlete pre-stroke, and truly believes that his love for fitness is what has made his recovery gains successful. Our group advocates strongly for all survivors to develop healthy and active lifestyles to aid in their recovery process. Lssg currently pays membership fees for 4 of its members to attend local recreation centers so they can continue an active lifestyle. Yoga is offered every-other week, in partnership with casa yoga volunteers and the san martin de porres church gymnasium. Tennis is offered every-other week, in partnership with the laredo tennis association and the san martin de porres church gymnasium. Lssg pays for swimming therapy once a week during warmer months. Our organization has purchased several forms of exercise equipment such as bicycle stabilizer wheels (for survivors to re-learn how to ride: similar to adult training wheels), yoga straps/belts for use during classes, pool rehab tools, "crash mats- and other similar fitness aids.

office supplies at every meeting, agendas are handed out, as well as a healthy recipe, monthly exercise, and any pertinent health articles. Each new member also receives a binder to keep track of all of the vital information they receive. At each health fair, we pass out flyers, business cards, and pertinent health articles. Monthly, as donors offer financial and in-kind support, we send out letters of appreciation from lssg. Printing and postage are part of our top three expense groups.