Community navigation for stroke survivors and their care partners: description and evaluation

To describe and evaluate a Community Stroke Navigation program.

A pretest-post test evaluation design was used. Community-dwelling stroke survivors were offered the services of a Community Stroke Navigator to assist them and their care partners with ongoing needs. Services included case coordination, emotional support, "just in time" education, coaching, advocacy, and accompaniment. The community reintegration and physical and emotional well-being of the stroke survivors and their care partners were measured just prior to and 4 months following service provision. The Community Stroke Navigator's notes and qualitative interviews were analyzed to categorize the interventions.

Forty-one stroke survivors and 32 care partners received navigation services. The stroke survivors had experienced their stroke 1 month to 30 years previously (mean 4.7 years, SD 6.4 years). Thirty-five stroke survivors and 26 care partners took part in both the pretest and posttest. Posttest results demonstrated a small improvement in community reintegration among the stroke survivors but no significant change in community reintegration on the part of the caregivers and no alteration in physical and emotional health among either stroke survivors or care partners.

Community Stroke Navigation has the potential to make an impact on community reintegration.