Women and stroke: Why females have a harder time recovering and how having a community may be the best rehab

It’s a common misconception that stroke only affects seniors. Stroke also affects younger people between 40 and 59 years, according to the HealthXchange website . What’s more, stroke is rising in women too.

The latest stroke data from 2021 shows there were 9,860 cases recorded in Singapore – an increase by 57 per cent in the last decade. According to the National Registry of Diseases (NRDO) , the number of women getting strokes has increased by 54 per cent.

Women in Singapore often have dual roles at home and at work. So having a full-time job or earning an income while balancing household duties will prove to be a challenge while recovering or living with stroke.

S3 – SUPPORT FOR STROKE SURVIVORS

Cue S3, or Stroke Support Station , a nonprofit started by the late Chew Poh Yim (the wife of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean) in 2015. She recognised the need for increased community support for stroke survivors who need help with integrating into society.

The charity is Singapore’s first and only stroke-focused community rehabilitation and wellness centre. It helps both stroke survivors and their caregivers with continued care through advanced assistive technology and conventional therapy, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. All their therapists are licensed.

The organisation works in partnership with medical professionals and therapists from various hospitals in Singapore.

In addition, S3 has developed its own programmes to help patients maximise their recovery, regain their independence and reintegrate into society. These include neurologic music therapy, art therapy, mindfulness practice, chair yoga and even animal-assisted therapy.

With its advanced facilities across its two locations –