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People with aphasia celebrate in Cornwall

24 July 2009

Connect's Access to Life Project in Cornwall is celebrating the fantastic news that their flagship project can continue to offer 'life after stroke' services.

A two-year contract jointly commissioned by Cornwall Primary Care Trust and Adult Social Services Directorate has been secured to continue these special services for people with stroke and aphasia. Gloucestershire City Council and the Primary Care Trust have also asked Connect to provide a two-year befriending scheme for people with stroke. Connect’s ambition is that this will be the first of many to be offered around the UK.

  ‘Access to life saved my life’

The impact of the pilot in Cornwall has made a huge difference to people with aphasia in Cornwall, and for many the project has changed their lives.

Before the pilot:
• 86% of people with aphasia felt frustrated
• 60% felt isolated and
• 38% felt helpless
After A2L :
• only 8% of people with aphasia felt frustrated
• No-one felt isolated or helpless anymore

The key to the success of this project is that people with aphasia support others with aphasia, with appropriate support from Connect.

Through activities such as befriending at home and in hospital, local ‘hubs’ of people working together to develop services and conversation groups, people with aphasia at last have the opportunity to ‘reconnect’ and feel they are a valued part of the community again. People like George, (aged 63 who has lived with aphasia for three years). He describes the project as a ‘life saver’.

'Without Connect I wouldn’t be here. Before Connect there was no hope. What’s the point? I tried to take my own life three times before Connect. Now I’ve met others and have their support I am fine. I’ve got my confidence and interest in life back. Connect and Access to Life pulled me out of it.' (George aged 63, living with aphasia for three years).

Local health and social care workers have noted what a difference the project has made. 'The project has proved it works and it really makes a difference – it should be available to people with aphasia everywhere,' said Maggie Scott, Joint Stroke Network Clinical Lead, Nurse Consultant.

People with aphasia and their relatives celebrated the success of the project at an event at The Penventon Hotel, Redruth, attended by the Duchess of Bedford from the Tavistock Trust, one of the original project funders.

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