Community Stroke Advisors

Our community stroke advisors

 

The Stroke Foundation has 29 Community Stroke Advisors (CSAs) across the country, providing free critical services to stroke survivors, and their family / whānau and carers to achieve the best possible outcomes for recovery.

Our Community Stroke Advisors (CSAs) are professional advisors for stroke survivors and family/whanau members or carers living in the community. The aim of the service is to help stroke survivors realise their full potential for recovery and wellbeing following a stroke. The service is free and has helped many stroke survivors regain life after stroke.

    Justin and Olivia

    A CSA:

    • Makes hospital and home visits to introduce and explain the CSA service

    • Works with stroke survivors, family/whānau and carers to assess needs

    • Develops an action plan to meet current needs and to achieve specific goals in partnership with the client, collaborating with other health professionals as required

    • Provides support, information and advice to build knowledge and skills that assist effective adaptation to disability and minimise risk of further strokes. Information includes the nature of stroke, its causes and risk factors, prevention tips, the role of treatment and rehabilitation and how to optimise life after stroke and manage after-effects such as fatigue and depression. A wide range of printed resources are available

    • For individuals diagnosed with Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) offers plain language information about TIA, lifestyle changes to minimise risk of further strokes and how to identify and respond if one is occurring

    • Networks in the community and provides service coordination and navigation to ensure clients are referred to the best services to meet their needs. This includes local stroke clubs and other groups for social support

    • Supports working age people to return to work in conjunction with our Return to Work Advisors

    • Provides advocacy support where clients face barriers to accessing services

    • Provides information on transport options when unable to drive and how to obtain Total Mobility half price taxi fares if the client is eligible.

     

    Watch our short video for a quick introduction to the Community Stroke Advisor service:

     

    Stroke survivor Rob Coles talks more about his experience of using Stroke Foundation services:

    Stroke Clubs, support groups, recreational activities

    Stroke clubs provide mutual support to people with stroke, their family, whānau, carers and supporters. They enable people to share experiences, to understand more about stroke, to meet new people and to participate in social activities and special events. CSAs provide links to local clubs if people wish to join.

    CSAs know about local support groups and recreational activities of value to people with stroke, their families, whānau and carers. These may include exercise groups, sports clubs, accessible gyms, art and craft groups, therapies, caregiver, partner or family support groups and younger stroke survivor groups. CSAs link clients with these community services.

     

    Engagement with CSA service

    A stroke survivor and their immediate family, whānau and carer or carers are welcome to engage with the CSA service. 

    Before beginning with the CSA service an ‘Agreement to Participate’ is completed. This process confirms each client understands how their health information will be used during their engagement with the CSA service.  

    Clients are provided with The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights. The CSA can contact a health and disability advocate for a client if necessary.

    Justin and Olivia

     

    Referrals for CSA service

    ·         People with stroke, their families, whānau can request this service themselves

    ·         Any medical and rehabilitation service, community group or residential facility can make a referral to the service.

    ·         You can contact your local Community Stroke Advisor or regional office by text, phone or email - see below for details.

     

    Return to Work programme (available in Auckland and Christchurch only)

    Our Return to Work service is free for stroke survivors who wish to return to the workforce. Return to Work Advisors provide expertise and support to guide stroke survivors through the process of returning safely to employment, and work with employers to help them support their employees who have experienced a stroke.

    We have three Return to Work Advisors in Auckland and one Return to Work Advisor in Christchurch. The CSAs link clients with this service. 

    Click here to read more about our Return to Work programme

     

    Find a community stroke advisor near you

    Natasha Knell

    Rodney, Auckland

    Mobile

    Evelina Williams

    Manukau, Auckland

    Mobile

    Vacant

    North Shore, Auckland

    Pauline Mitchell

    West Auckland

    Mobile

    Michelle Newbury-Lee

    East Auckland

    Mobile

    Sandy Barnes

    Franklin/ South Auckland, Port Waikato

    Mobile

    Vacant

    Central Auckland

    Mobile

    Gabriele Zundorf

    Whangarei, Northland

    Phone

    Lynelle Ngakuru

    Far and Mid North

    Phone
    Mobile

    Vivienne McDonald

    Central Midland (Lakes, Matamata and South Tauranga)

    Mobile

    Teresa Sherman

    South Midland (Taupō, Turangi, Ruapehu, Tokoroa, South Waikato)

    Mobile

    Deidre Wride

    Taranaki

    Mobile

    Jessica Dallimore

    Coromandel, Bethlehem to Morrinsville, Huntly, Ngaruawahia

    Mobile

    Emily May

    Marlborough

    Phone
    Mobile

    Anne-Marie Fowke-Stayner

    Nelson

    Phone
    Mobile

    Helen Nolan

    West Coast

    Phone
    Mobile

    Elaine Cottam &

    Brenda Rainsbury

    Canterbury - Christchurch

    Phone
    Elaine Cottam:
    Mobile
    Brenda Rainsbury:
    Mobile

    Abby Hodgson

    South Canterbury - Timaru

    Phone
    Mobile

    Debbie Huls

    North Otago - Oamaru

    Phone
    Mobile

    Judith Hyslop

    Otago - Dunedin

    Phone
    Mobile

    Kristin Lobb

    Southland

    Phone
    Mobile

    Cathy Bloome

    Canterbury - Christchurch

    Mobile

    Monica Lewinski

    Upper Harbour

    Phone

    Emily Tatham

    Tamaki (Asian focus)

    Phone
    Mobile

    Ayesha Qureshi

    Otago - Dunedin

    Mobile

    Caroline Callow

    Gisborne

    Phone
    Mobile

    Danielle Greer

    Hamilton, Kawhia, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, Waitomo, Raglan

    Mobile

    Nicola Simpson

    Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa

    Michelle Becher

    Wellington

    Mobile

    Nicola Hosking

    Manawatu

    Mobile

    Kate Jenkins

    Kapiti Coast

    Mobile

    Diane MacDonald

    Whanganui

    Mobile

    Kate Jenkins

    Hutt Valley, Wairarapa

    Mobile

    Michelle Becher

    Porirua

    Mobile

    Monique Luff

    Hawkes Bay

    Mobile

    Natasha Knell

    Rodney, Auckland

    Mobile
    -36.5812977, 174.6884513

    Evelina Williams

    Manukau, Auckland

    Mobile
    -36.9893975, 174.8666321

    Vacant

    North Shore, Auckland

    -36.800647, 174.782311

    Pauline Mitchell

    West Auckland

    Mobile
    -36.8796227, 174.6319223

    Michelle Newbury-Lee

    East Auckland

    Mobile
    -36.85513, 174.860405

    Sandy Barnes

    Franklin/ South Auckland, Port Waikato

    Mobile
    -37.001799, 174.899334

    Vacant

    Central Auckland

    Mobile
    -36.850201, 174.76271

    Gabriele Zundorf

    Whangarei, Northland

    Phone
    -35.724382, 174.324474

    Lynelle Ngakuru

    Far and Mid North

    Phone
    Mobile
    -35.277668, 173.570751

    Monica Lewinski

    Upper Harbour

    Phone
    -36.7993297, 174.643372

    Emily Tatham

    Tamaki (Asian focus)

    Phone
    Mobile
    -36.8927812, 174.7900515

    DHB professionals are encouraged to incorporate referral to the CSA service as a standard component of discharge planning.  Referrals are accepted from any health or support professional, from a family/whanau member or by self-referral.
    Preferred mechanism for health professionals is to utilise the CSA service referral form.  A copy is available from the CSA.  With client consent, attaching additional information such as a copy of the client’s discharge summary significantly assists the quality of what the CSA can deliver.

    Download this form as a Word Document:

    Referral Form

    Referrer Details

    Client Details

    Client Address

    Address

    NHI Number

    Stroke Details

    Alternative details

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