Find a Supportive Community for Stroke Survivors
This May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time to share resources and information about how to prevent, recognize, and recover from stroke. One of the most critical elements of long-term recovery from ischemic stroke is joining a supportive and accessible community. Many Vivistim users have found comfort, inspiration, and friendship through connection with other survivors. That’s why we’re sharing this guide for how and why to find a community, both for survivors and caregivers.
Community is More Important Than Ever
One of the most crucial aspects of ischemic stroke recovery is having a supportive community. From peer support to local and online groups for fellow survivors or caretakers, there are options for everyone.
According to 2025 data from the American Heart Association, approximately 795,000 people in the U.S. alone will experience a stroke each year. While mortality rates for ischemic stroke (the most common type, at 87% of all strokes) continue to improve, about half of all survivors experience some form of disability. Community support needs will continue to increase as survival rates rise.
Why Stroke Survivors Need Community Support
Recovering from a stroke is often a difficult and lengthy path, requiring a strong commitment from the patient. It is as much a mental journey as it is a physical one, which can be taxing.
Many stroke survivors face invisible challenges that are not immediately apparent to others, such as confusion, frustration, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, all of which can manifest in subtle ways. A supportive community aids in addressing both the visible and invisible facets of recovery that may emerge outside of doctor’s appointments and physical therapy.
Ischemic stroke survivors often experience a prolonged recovery, with persistent limitations that can last for years. Having supportive people to lean on when progress feels slow can help people feel motivated to continue and achieve their rehabilitation goals.
Community support at the time of discharge from rehabilitation for stroke survivors is the most significant predictor of community participation three months after the stroke. Older research has shown that patients with a social support system experienced up to 65% greater functional improvement on the Barthel Index than those without a social support system.
Support for survivors can be as simple as offering a listening ear and celebrating the wins together. For stroke recovery patients, it can be a significant achievement to finally button a coat or clip a dog leash. When caregivers, friends, family, and peer survivors show up for the small moments that matter, they create a network of support that lasts beyond that single moment.
How to Find Stroke Survivor Support Groups
Having local options for support can be especially beneficial. Organizations like the American Stroke Association offer online tools to find virtual and in-person support groups. For the online options, there is one for stroke survivors and one specifically for caregivers, who often benefit from peer support as well.
The ASA also offers resources for starting your own support group, including discussion topics, educational materials, and tools for leaders. Additionally, the Brain Injury Association of America can connect you to local groups.
Other local community organizations, such as the YMCA, often host events for stroke survivors. Your medical care team is another great source for local support options, as many hospitals also host and sponsor support groups.
You can also get creative and find a community focused on education and stories from stroke survivors, such as stroke-related podcasts or books. People often form communities around these resources on social media sites like Reddit, Discord, or Facebook.
Of course, not every group will be the right fit for you or your loved one. Try one or two sessions of a group discussion before deciding if it’s the right fit. Look for common interests outside of stroke recovery among the other participants – no one wants to talk about strokes all the time! Making friends who share your experience with stroke, as well as other passions and hobbies, can enrich your support group experience.
During National Stroke Awareness Month, you can also search for local fundraisers or awareness events and get involved. You’re sure to find like-minded survivors and caregivers at many of these events. Here are a few that Vivistim is involved with:
- 2025 Chicago CycleNation
- Vivistim Mini Screening Event at PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Tulsa
- The West Morris Area YMCA Stroke Recovery Open House
The Benefits of Peer-to-Peer Stroke Survivor Support
Research consistently shows that peer support plays a crucial role in stroke recovery. When stroke survivors connect with others who have walked a similar path, they experience multiple benefits.
Many stroke survivors face unmet psychosocial needs during their recovery journey. A 2022 study on nurse-led peer support interventions found that structured peer support programs can help address these gaps in care, particularly when based on holistic models that consider the individual, their environment, and their occupational performance needs.
Stroke survivors report that peer interactions offer unique value through shared experiences. Being able to talk with someone who truly understands the challenges creates a special kind of support. These connections allow survivors to compare their situations, learn from others’ experiences, and often find increased motivation to continue their recovery journey.
A Peer Mentor at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Doug Nichols experienced an ischemic stroke in 2015 and shares his recovery journey, including Vivistim, with other stroke survivors in the Chicagoland area. He tells fellow survivors the importance of involving their support system in their treatment plans and relying on them for encouragement, especially when progress is incremental.
Doug was also eager to become a Vivistim Ambassador to share tips, inspiration, and motivation with stroke survivors considering the FDA-approved stroke recovery intervention. Whether through free webinars, connection calls, patient testimonials, or media opportunities, the Vivistim Ambassador Program is designed to create a community for stroke survivors and their caregivers, offering education and support. To connect with a Vivistim Ambassador, contact Customer Service at 855-628-9375 or customerservice@microtransponder.com.
CTA: Check out more resources and ways to find support and get involved for Stroke Awareness Month.
The MicroTransponder® Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System is intended to be used to stimulate the vagus nerve during rehabilitation therapy in order to reduce upper extremity motor deficits and improve motor function in chronic ischemic stroke patients with moderate to severe arm impairment. Do not use if you have had a bilateral or left cervical vagotomy. Risks may include, but are not limited to pain after surgery, hoarseness, bruising, swelling, coughing and throat irritation. Infection leading to explant is a risk associated with any device surgery. For full safety information, please see www.vivistim.com/safety. Individual results may vary.
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