Life After a Stroke - National Stroke Association

Life After a Stroke
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Allsup

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time of the year when we reflect on the progress we've made in stroke prevention and recovery, and look for ways to continue improving stroke response in the future. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. experiences a stroke, which is the third-leading cause of death in the country behind heart disease and cancer.

The good news is that the death rate for stroke has fallen significantly in recent years. The bad news is that approximately 7 million stroke survivors are living with the after-effects of a "brain attack," which can include pain, emotional disturbances, problems with thinking and comprehension, problems with memory and even paralysis. A stroke affects more than your mind and body though, often wreaking havoc on your finances as well.

Just as your body needs care and rehabilitation, your finances also need tending as you adjust to a loss of income and increased healthcare costs. National Stroke Association recommends that survivors and their caregivers look into a number of support options following a stroke, including the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. If you have worked and paid FICA taxes, you have paid for this insurance and have the option to claim your SSDI benefits.