Winthrop-University Hospital’s Institute for Neurosciences is training volunteers for its Stroke Peer Visitor Program—the first such program on Long Island—to provide support and comfort to hospitalized stroke survivors. Trained volunteer visitors, who are either stroke survivors or caregivers, meet face-to-face with patients as well as their caregivers to offer hope and information about life after stroke.

Whether in a support group or at the patient’s bedside, the peer visitor program has helped many patients since the program was officially initiated in March 2004. Peer visitors address issues of particular interest to survivors and family members including community resources, the road to recovery, and day-to-day living with disabilities.

In order to qualify as a volunteer, every applicant must go through an extensive training program that includes six classroom sessions and one peer visit session. At the end of the seven classes, the peer visitors are evaluated to ensure their success in the program. Volunteers then visit patients at least once a month in the hospital.

To learn more about becoming a stroke peer visitor, and sign up for the next training session, contact Kerry O’Brien, RN, Cerebrovascular Program Coordinator in Winthrop’s Department of Neurology at (516) 663-9098.