Life after stroke: How telehealth is closing the rural care gap
Episode 44
Host: Carol Eugene Park
Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability in Canada—and for survivors in rural and remote communities, recovery often means navigating a health-care system with far fewer resources than their urban counterparts. In this episode of From Here Forward, hosts Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha sit down with Dr. Brodie Sakakibara, associate professor in UBC's Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and director of the Okanagan Stroke Research Lab, to unpack how telehealth and virtual rehabilitation are reshaping recovery across BC's Interior.
Dr. Sakakibara breaks down why the current health-care system's acute-care focus leaves many stroke survivors without support once they return home—and how that gap contributes to alarming numbers: 16% of stroke survivors will have a second stroke within a year, and one-third within five years. He shares how his lab is using technology to extend care into rural communities, empower patients to self-manage chronic health, and address barriers like device and internet access.
Listeners will also learn how to recognize stroke symptoms, the modifiable risk factors that matter most for prevention, and why sleep, stress management, and physical activity remain foundational to long-term recovery.
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