Stroke (CVA)

Written By Greta Myers

You had a stroke… Now what?

The goal of this resource page is to give people some direction after having a stroke. We understand that there is a lot to navigate, so we want to help you find the resources you need. This list compiles some of the stroke specific care that is available in Lancaster County and the surrounding area. This is not an all encompassing list (because we are not perfect and new things happen every day); however, if you provide stroke specialized care and would like to be listed here, please email neuroneighborhood@gmail.com. We will provide a short questionnaire to help us to better understand your background in stroke care. 

Your circle of care should be a group of providers, family, friends, caregivers, and YOU! Each person is different. You may not need each member listed below in your own circle of care, but we wanted to provide education on potential members of your circle who may be helpful to you. 

This is not intended to be medical advice. This is strictly providing neuro specific resources with a focus on those resources in the Lancaster County area. Please consult with your physician regarding any medical needs. 

  • Caregivers such as family or friends are an important support system for people after having a stroke. It may be hard to ask for help, but there are people who want to help you navigate this new chapter in your life.

    Caregivers can be one of your biggest advocates, but it is also important for caregivers to take care of themselves:

    • Join caregiver support groups

    • Get respite care when you need it

  • Driving Safety Specialists ensure safe return to driving (be sure to ask your neurologist or primary care physician (PCP) if you are able to drive after your stroke)

    Penn Medicine LGH

    • Neuroscience Institute, Suburban Pavilion, Willow Lakes

  • Durable Medical Equipment can help with safe mobility including wheelchairs, specialized walkers, and standing frames.

    • National Seating and Mobility, Reading

      • Custom Wheelchairs

      • Chris Kritzer, ATP

    • NuMotion

      • Custom Wheelchairs

      • Megan Wennersten, ATP

    • Permobil

      • Custom Wheelchairs

  • Exercise is important for us all, but especially after having a stroke. Finding ways to be active is very important and can be a challenge after having a stroke. Being active can include a gym workout, sport or game, or even gardening. It is important to find something that you enjoy! If you need guidance on returning to exercise and physical activity in general you can use the following resources to help guide you.

    Personal Trainer:

    • Trainers can help you improve your strength and endurance, maintain physical activity levels that you gained from therapy, and decrease your risk of secondary complications. We recommend finding someone who specializes in working with people who have a stroke so they are able to challenge you appropriately and understand the techniques required to progress and maintain your activity level.

    • Adaptive Sports

      • Two Top Mountain 

        • Adaptive Sports Program out of Mercersburg, PA (near Chambersburg)

        • Winter Sports: Skiing, Snowboarding

        • Summer Sports: Fishing, Kayaking, Cycling, Waterskiing

      • Lancaster Recumbent Biking

    • Support Groups

      • LGH Stroke Support Group

        • 1st Thursday of the month 6-7pm

        • Meets at Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital

      • Penn State Health Stroke Support Group

        • 2nd Wednesday of the month 3-4pm

        • Meets and Penn State Hershey Rehab Hospital

    • Other Assistance Programs: 

    • Lancaster Office of Aging: 

      • Senior Centers

        • Throughout Lancaster County

        • Provides activities throughout the day for seniors

        • Bingo, yoga, lunch

  • A neuro ophthalmologist is also different from your normal eye doctor and different from a neuro optometrist. They are able to help identify if some vision changes are connected to your brain rather than a change in your actual eye. This can be helpful to determine and treat vision changes after having a stroke.

    These are some locations that have neuro ophthalmologists:

    • Tiedeken MD Eye Care

      • Dr. Tiedeken

    • LG Health Physicians Neurology, Lancaster

      • Dr. Wu-Chen

    • Penn State Health Eye Center, Hershey

      • Dr. Cantore

    • Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, Wyomissing/Lebanon

  • Neuro Optometrists are different than your regular eye doctor. They are able to perform much more thorough testing and evaluation of vision problems that can occur after having a stroke. They can help assess changes like visual field cuts or double vision. Most also can either provide vision therapy or work closely with your occupational therapist to provide vision therapy.

    These are two locations that offer neuro optometry:

  • A neuropsychologist can be beneficial to provide cognitive testing or working through emotional responses to life changes after having a stroke.

    These are some facilities that offer neuropsychology

    • Penn Medicine LG Health Physicians Neurology, Lancaster

    • Penn State Health Neuroscience Insitute, Hershey

    • Wellspan Neurology, Ephrata

  • Nutritionists or Registered Dieticians can help guide you in eating healthy, decreasing potential complications for other diseases, and understanding the relationship between nutrition needs and wellness

    Penn Medicine LG Health Suburban Pavilion

  • Occupational therapy can help you get back to all your daily activities and hobbies (they don’t just help people return to work!). Your occupational therapist can help you with daily activities including bathing, dressing, or cooking, returning to recreational activities/hobbies, cognition, vision, and adaptive equipment.

    When deciding which occupational therapist to see, we recommend looking for someone who specializes in working with people after having a stroke. Some certifications that you can look for include a Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist (CSRS). Some equipment that you can look for or ask if they have includes Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and an Activities of Daily Living Practice Area.

    • Facilities that we know have occupational therapists that work with people post stroke

      • Inpatient services: 

        • Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of York

        • Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital

        • Penn State Hershey Rehabilitation Hospital

        • Wellspan Ephrata Acute Rehabilitation Unit

      • Outpatient services: 

        • Neuro Day in LGH Neuroscience Institute Physical Therapy and Rehab Services, Lancaster

        • Penn State Health Hershey Outpatient Rehab, Hershey

        • Wellspan Brossman Health Center, Ephrata

      • Wellspan Rehabilitation, York

  • Orthotists can provide bracing to assist with limitations in range of motion and improve foot drop.

    Some examples may include static splints, static progressive splints, dynamic splints, and custom Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs).

    • Hanger Clinic

      • East Petersburg/Lancaster/Elizabethtown/York/Reading/Lebanon/Harrisburg

    • Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics, Lancaster

  • Pharmacists know the most about your medications.

    Pharmacists can help with your medication access. Often times, they have more knowledge about working with insurance and coupons available to make your medication more affordable.

    They best understand side effect management and, at times, can give tips on how to minimize side effects.

    Pharmacists can also give recommendations on tools and strategies to improve your adherence to taking medications.

  • Physical therapy can help with many aspects of returning to your favorite activities and mobility. Some of the things your physical therapist can help you with includes your balance, walking, stairs, transfers, getting on/off the floor, coordinating movement, improving range of motion, pain, strength in arm or leg.

    When deciding which physical therapist to see, we recommend looking for someone who specializes in working with people after having a stroke. Some certifications that you can look for include a Neurological Clinical Specialist (NCS) or Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist (CSRS). Some equipment that you can look for or ask if they have includes Body Weight Support Systems or Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES).

    • Facilities that we know have physical therapists that work with people post stroke

      • Inpatient services: 

        • Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of York

        • Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist

        • Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital

        • Penn State Hershey Rehabilitation Hospital

        • Wellspan Ephrata Acute Rehabilitation Unit

      • Outpatient services: 

        • HARTZ Physical Therapy, Lancaster

        • Neuro Day in LGH Neuroscience Institute Physical Therapy and Rehab Services, Lancaster

        • Penn State Health Hershey Outpatient Rehab, Hershey

        • Wellspan Brossman Health Center, Ephrata

        • Wellspan Rehabilitation, York

  • A Primary Care Physician (PCP) is an important access point for general management of your health concerns.

    We recommend ensuring that your PCP is working with your other physicians and providers and at times your PCP office may have a social work team to help you navigate the healthcare system.

    • Be involved in the community (support groups, church, activities)

    • Be physically active

    • Be an advocate for yourself

    • Maintain strong relationships with friends and family

    • Seek information about newest technologies

    • Ask for and accept help when needed

    • Engage in ‘brain fitness’ activities

    • Work or volunteer

    • Focus on the present 

    • Engage in gratitude exercises

  • Respite or day programs can be very helpful for you after having your stroke to get out of the house and participating in the community and hobbies that you enjoy. They can also be helpful if you need assistance for activities throughout the day as these programs usually have skilled practitioners to assist you.

  • Speech therapy can help with more than just speech! Some of the things your speech therapist can help you with includes cognition, swallowing, speech, problem solving, memory, and communication.

    Facilities that we know have speech therapists that work with people post stroke

    • Inpatient services: 

      • Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of York

      • Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital, Lancaster

      • Penn State Hershey Rehabilitation Hospital, Hershey

      • Wellspan Ephrata Acute Rehabilitation Unit, Ephrata

    • Outpatient services: 

      • Neuro Day in LGH Neuroscience Institute Physical Therapy and Rehab Services, Lancaster

      • Penn State Health Hershey Outpatient Rehabilitation, Lime Spring

      • Penn State Health Hershey Outpatient Rehabilitation, Hershey

      • Wellspan Brossman Health Center, Ephrata

      • Wellspan Rehabilitation, York

Greta Myers
Previous

Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonisms
Next

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)