Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Stroke is a life changing event that can result in significant disability, poor health, low community participation and poor quality of life. Aquatic therapy has been shown to hold numerous benefits for recovery post-stroke. However, there is a lack of awareness about aquatic therapy or where to access it. To address this knowledge gap, our team co-designed the Stroke Toolkit for Aquatic Rehabilitation and Recreation Therapy (STARRT) with Ontarians who had experienced a stroke. The STARRT is an educational and information guide for the stroke community on how to use and access aquatic therapy. For instance, the toolkit contains information about the benefits of aquatic therapy, the different approaches to aquatic therapy, where to find pools and certified professionals, health and safety considerations, among other features. At this time, we wish to make the STARRT Tool-Kit accessible to the stroke communities across Canada. To achieve this goal, we have assembled a multidisciplinary team of professionals and patient partners, and we will work together to: 1) undertake an environmental scan of therapy and recreation pools across Canadian provinces and territories that are accessible to people with stroke; and 2) host a series of consultation workshops with national stakeholders and people who have experienced a stroke to co-create a national strategy on how to share the STARRT Tool-Kit. As a result, people who have experienced a stroke living across Canada will have access to a tool-kit that can help them to take part in aquatic therapy or recreation in their local community, which will lead to better health and quality of life.