Return to work or school

How do I know if I am ready to return to work?

Your readiness depends on:

How you feel
How the stroke has affected you
The type of work you do

Your stroke may have affected your body and mind. As well as physical changes, you may:

feel tired
have memory loss
have trouble concentrating
find it hard to plan and organize tasks
have changes with your vision
find it hard to speak or understand someone else
feel like your mood is low

It is important that you take time for your recovery. Many things will get better with time.

Try to be patient with yourself. Try not to put pressure on yourself to perform at the same level you did before your stroke.

When you feel ready, talk to your healthcare team about going back to work. Together you can decide if you are ready to go back to work. They can also help talk to your workplace about what supports you need to return.

Your employer is responsible for making reasonable accommodations to help you, if you are returning to the same job.

What might I need to change when I return to work?

This depends on how the stroke has affected you. You may need to:

Learn how to do things with 1 hand
Complete certain tasks sitting down instead of standing
Work or study for shorter or fewer days in a week
Adjust the type of work you were doing before

Your healthcare team and employer can work with you to come up with a plan.

Your health care providers can work with you to:

decide when you are healthy enough to go back to work, school or volunteering
discuss with your employer or teachers a plan to gradually return to work, school or volunteering

Your employer and school is responsible for making reasonable accommodations to enable you to return to work or school (for example: accommodating exams, placements, etc.). Speak to a community legal clinic if you have any questions about your rights.

How do I know if I am ready and able to return to work?

The Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network has created a tool kit that supports persons with stroke to return to work. The Return to Work Tool Kit includes a self-assessment guide and information on available resources.

Which members of my healthcare team can help?

Members of your healthcare team can help support you when you are ready to think about going back to work. They include:

Social Worker. They can help you find community resources and supports related to finances, employment and education.
Occupational Therapist (OT). They can give you a way to help manage changes in your thinking, moving, speaking or vision. An OT can help you figure out the kind of modifications that can be made to support your return to work, school or volunteering.
Physiotherapist. They can help to support with the physical aspects of returning to work.
Vocational Rehabilitation Therapist. They provide training in a trade or skill to help you return to paid work. They can also provide career counselling.
Doctor. They will advise you on any precautions to take when returning to work or school. They may also provide help in filling out forms on return to work or school accommodations.
Neuropsychologist. They can do special cognitive testing to help support your return to work.

What if I cannot return to the same type of work?

Your healthcare team can help you think about different work options. Programs are available to help you gain new skills, training and find work.

Below are examples of organizations that can help:

Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
March of Dimes Canada – Employment Services

Click here to learn about Ron’s experience getting back to work.

Many people choose to volunteer after having a stroke to:

maintain a sense of meaning and productivity when they are not yet able to return to work
try a different role and learn new skills
consider becoming a peer mentor to others who have had a stroke

Having read the information in this section, consider the following

Is returning to work, school, or volunteering a goal for me?
Am I able to return to work, school, or volunteering with or without modifications (for example: flexible hours, work from home, etc.).
Do I know what things might get in the way of returning to work, school or volunteering (for example: problems concentrating, fatigue, mobility or communication)?
Do I know what department to talk to at school or work about accommodations?
Is my workplace or school accessible?
Have I talked with my employer about what will be expected of me if/when I return to work?
If it has been determined that I won’t be returning to my current job, do I know what other options I have (for example: train for another job, volunteer, return to school, or retire)?
If I am no longer employed, do I have access to financial support programs?
Do I know who to talk to at my school or work about changes to make it accessible (for example: ramps, proper desk and chair, changes in equipment)?
If I can’t return to my job, do I know what other options I have (for example: train for another job, return to school, or retire)?
I would like to volunteer. How do I find volunteer opportunities that are right for me?