Picking up the pieces

A webinar on building skills for managing transitions to home and self-care during COVID-19

This webinar will provide practical tips from experts regarding COVID-19, managing your health and these conditions, and how to prepare for and cope with transitions.

This webinar offers timely practical guidance by experts about self-care and making the transition home during COVID-19.

There are many unknowns at this time particularly as new information around COVID-19 continues to unfold. Managing health conditions is even more stressful when you are dealing with a newer diagnosis, and perhaps have recently transitioned from hospital to the community after a cardiac or stroke event.

This webinar reviewed what to expect during COVID-19, practical tips, and available resources, as you or a loved one transitions through the continuum of care and into the home or community after a cardiac or stroke event.

Key guidance from our speakers
Jim and Sherry Beattie, People with Lived Experience +–

Key advice from Jim and Sherry 

  • Ensure you maintain your regularly scheduled calls with your doctor and have the necessary information ready as requested by your doctor 
  • Safety first 
  • Take this time to slow down and look after yourself 
  • Ask for help- Either from family or an online community (H&S link) 
  • Always advocate for yourself- you are likely not the only person struggling so advocate for a better system 
  • Be patient with yourself, your therapy team and your technology; this is a new way of navigating for most.  Do not be afraid to ask questions.
Dr. Elissa Weinberg, Toronto  +–

Guidance from a family physician during COVID-19

  • Family physicians have adopted virtual care for visiting with patients- this involves video and phone calls, pictures, and email 
  • Virtual care is being used to help screen patients with viral symptoms who are worried about COVID-19 and to provide advice for the management of symptoms for patients suspected of having COVID-19 
  • Virtual care is also being used for: acute care conditions, chronic medical conditions, and mental health conditions 
  • Family physicians are still seeing patients both virtually and in office with safe protocols in place to minimize risk – Do not hesitate to schedule an appointment 
  • Emergency rooms are seeing patients – Do not hesitate to seek help 
Brenda Semencoe, Community Stroke Care Service & health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg  +–

Brenda highlights some changes you may experience after a stroke and some tips for coping with these changes 

  • Physical changes – such as balance, pain, changes in vision and swallowing
  • Emotional changes like feeling more depressed 
  • Perceptual changes – you may have difficulty making sense of what you are seeing and feeling around you and your concept of time may be change (i.e how much time has passed) 
  • Cognitive changes – Difficulty with memory, attention span, and thinking skills 

Final Tips 

  • Sleep is very important- listen to your body and practice relaxation techniques before bed such as deep breathing 
  • Conserving energy

    • Plan – do the things you need to do when you have the most energy

    • Pace – take breaks/rest before getting tired

    • Position – your body safely (e.g. sit to do meal preparation, use a higher toilet seat)

  • Prioritize – set goals/write things down 
  • Re-establish routines and habits and something that brings you joy everyday

COVID-19 makes our fight more urgent than ever

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