Well-being after stroke in Canadian seniors: findings from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging.
OBJECTIVE
After a stroke many people continue to live with their residual impairments and disabilities in the community, which can pose a significant problem for survivors' well-being. The purpose of this research was to investigate patterns of well-being in community-dwelling stroke survivors to identify those factors that restrict and enhance well-being.


METHODS
A secondary analysis was conducted on data from the second wave of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA-2). A national sample of 5395 community-dwelling Canadian seniors (aged > or =65 years) was interviewed for CSHA-2, including 339 stroke survivors (6.3%). Information was collected on health, social and demographic characteristics, and well-being. Comparisons were made between the health and functional status of stroke survivors and community-dwelling seniors who have not experienced a stroke. Multiple regression was used to examine the factors associated with well-being in stroke survivors.


RESULTS
Compared with community-dwelling seniors who have not experienced a stroke, stroke survivors report a lower sense of well-being. Stroke survivors are also more likely to be restricted in their physical and cognitive function, to report worse mental health, and to be living with a greater number of comorbid health conditions. Mental health and physical and cognitive disabilities are associated with a reduced sense of well-being in stroke survivors, but social supports and educational resources moderate the impact of functional status on well-being.


CONCLUSIONS
Community-dwelling seniors who have had a stroke experience a reduced sense of well-being. However, social resources can help to alleviate the subjective burden of this common neurological condition.
Clarke
Philippa
P
Institute for Human Development, Life Course, and Aging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. philippa.clarke@utoronto.ca
Marshall
Victor
V
Black
Sandra E
SE
Colantonio
Angela
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*