Queen’s North Hawaii hospital launches free stroke support group in Waimea

Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital has launched a free stroke support group in Waimea for survivors and caregivers who often need help long after hospital treatment ends. The bimonthly group was announced June 29, and its first meeting is set for Tuesday, July 21, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Mauna Kea-Mauna Loa conference room at the hospital in Waimea, also known as Kamuela.

The sessions are open to the public and do not require sign-up. Amy Shipley, a speech-language pathologist in Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital Rehabilitation Services, will facilitate the meetings. The gatherings will include open discussion, education, practical tools for life after stroke and guest speakers, serving both survivors and the people helping them recover at home.

Stroke recovery often involves rebuilding routines, communicating with providers, managing uncertainty and helping family members understand what comes next. Stroke patients face multiple barriers when transitioning back into the community, and Queen’s Health Systems’ outpatient stroke clinic is designed to maximize rehabilitation and secondary stroke prevention after discharge. The new Waimea group gives people a local place to ask questions, compare notes and stay connected without leaving North Hawaii.

The hospital’s rehabilitation services already bring physical, occupational, speech and massage therapies together in one location on Hawaii Island. Speech and communication challenges are common after stroke, along with changes in thinking, fatigue and independence. Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital is a 35-bed rural acute care hospital with more than 300 employees and over a dozen employed physicians.

The Hawaii Department of Health says stroke is the state’s No. 1 cause of chronic disability and No. 3 cause of death. The American Heart Association says cardiovascular disease, including heart and stroke conditions, is the leading cause of death in Hawaii, and rural Americans face a 30% higher stroke risk than urban counterparts. Questions about the group can be directed to Amy Shipley at AShipley@queens.org or 808-881-4814.