Hear expert advice and practical steps to help you explore returning to work after a stroke.
Clara Brennan a careers counsellor talks about the difficulties of returning to work and highlights IHF’s Vocational Return to work short course and what’s covered to support you.
This course is run several times a year – speak with your coordinator for more information and course dates.
Tammy, Debbie, Ciarán and Kevin give advice on their experience about getting back to work after a stroke.
When to return to work
There is no correct time that you should return to work after a stroke. It is personal to your own recovery and the impact of your stroke, and how this will impact you at work. This includes physical limitations, cognitive weaknesses ( i.e. concentration, memory, processing and organisation), fatigue, and sensory and communication issues. Some people may return within weeks of having a stroke, while for others it may take months or years.
Talk with your doctor and rehabilitation team about the return to work process. They may recommend changes to the hours you work and create a plan for a phased return. They can also advise adaptations or specialized equipment available that might be useful for you.
Speak with your employer to tell them you have had a stroke and you are taking time for rehabilitation. Get an understanding of your employer’s policies on returning to work after sick leave and make regular contact with them to keep them up to date on your recovery. When you do begin to think about the process of returning to work create a plan with your employer of how you will return, keeping your recovery at the centre of this plan. Keep this conversation open with your employer so that you can always change and alter this plan as you move through your recovery.
Things to take into consideration
When deciding if you are ready to return to work there are a few points to consider. If you are still attending a high number of medical appointments, you may not have the time to dedicate to working just yet. Stroke recovery can cause a high level of psychological distress which might impact your ability to concentrate on work tasks, it is important to think about your mental well-being as well as your physical when returning to work. Remember your stroke recovery is a journey!
A good indicator if you are unsure if you are ready to return to work is to think about how you are able to cope and handle your normal day-to-day life without work, i.e. how does your fatigue control your day or how do you manage cognitive tasks? Once your condition is relatively stable this is an ideal time to get back to work.
Managing being back at work
The problem doesn’t go away once you have returned to work. Juggling work, home, family, social life and your recovery can be hard.
A phased return-to-work approach is common to ease into working life and managing your recovery. This may consist of returning a few mornings per week and gradually building it up to full-time over the course of a number of months to a year. Working reduced hours and allowing yourself a day off during the week to recuperate may allow you to maintain your recovery goals, as you can schedule time to rest for those struggling with fatigue or fit in some exercise to keep active.
Once you have returned to your workplace and are noticeably ‘ok’ or ‘back to normal’ employers can quickly forget those hidden symptoms and impacts you are suffering from. It is important to maintain clear communication about your recovery and how it impacts your work. Keep that conversation open with your line manager by scheduling weekly/monthly meetings to catch up about how you are finding being back to work post-stroke. Continue to keep them up to date on your recovery and how the workload is working with your scheduled hours.
Changing careers post-stroke
Due to the impact of your stroke, you might not be able to return to your previous career or job role. There are many other roles out there that your valuable transferable skills will be just as appropriate for. Retraining or returning to college is also an option, to be able to work in an area most appropriate to your interests. Remember it’s never too late to start something new!
You might even consider volunteering to gain new experience or fill your time in a different way. Volunteering can be a flexible opportunity that you can fit in around your own schedule.
