Stroke Survivors Talk, Patient Tips At St V’s

BRIDGEPORT — “Exercising After Stroke” is the program for the next meeting of the St Vincent’s Stroke Survivors and Caregivers Support Group on Wednesday, July 15, from 5:30 to 7 pm, in the Seton Room on Level C of the Medical Center.

Featured speaker will be Eunice Lisk, MS, a clinical exercise physiologist at St Vincent’s Medical Center, who will provide instruction on exercising after a stroke and will also demonstrate seated exercises.

The Stroke Survivors and Caregivers Support Group addresses the concerns and needs of stroke survivors and their caregivers. It also provides an opportunity for participants to interact with others for emotional support, as well as to share strategies and techniques to improve their quality of life.

Speech, occupational, and physical therapists as well as neurologists and social workers are also available to provide information and links to services in the community. The group is sponsored by St Vincent’s Department of Social Work and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

There is no charge for attendance at the group, and parking is free with validated ticket. For more information, call 203-576-5361 or 203-576-5608.

In other programming, St Vincent’s is sponsoring a free talk open to the general public titled “Be Your Own Advocate: Tips for Every Patient” as a part of its 2009 Summer Listen & Learn Lecture Series. The talk will take place on Thursday, July 16, from 11 am to noon, hosted by The Watermark at 3030 Park Avenue, Bridgeport.

The featured speaker, Francis Scifo, MD, will teach patients to be proactive in their health care, emphasize the importance of screenings, regularly scheduled visits, and the preparation that goes into becoming one’s own healthcare advocate.

Dr Scifo is well known for his work as co-chair of St Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound since 2000, helping to raise millions of dollars in the fight against cancer, and has also served as a member of many civic organizations, including a term as medical advisor to Bridgeport’s Emergency Medical Services. In addition he serves as the host of St Vincent’s Health Talk, a radio call-in show on WICC 600AM spotlighting medical topics.

A question and answer session will follow the presentation, and light refreshments will be provided.

For more information or to register for this lecture, call St Vincent’s toll-free Care Line at 877-255-SVHS (7847).