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By Stew Kernan

A new study is showing that a program, based at Health Sciences North, designed to help people adjust to everyday life after a stroke is having positive results.

A Community Navigator works with patients and their families to help access community resources, develops personalized recovery plans and evaluates the patient’s progress.

Study investigator Darren Jermyn  says between 2012 and 2015, researchers followed over 100 people in northeastern Ontario who used the Stroke Community Navigator.

The study shows that patients that opted for navigation recorded significant improvement in their Return to Normal Living Index, six to 12 weeks after discharge from hospital.

The service was launched at Health Sciences North in 2011 and has since expanded to North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Temiskaming Shores and Parry Sound.