Can I travel post-stroke? You bet you can!

“I’ve had a stroke, now I have incontinence. I’m just going to stay home.”

Nope.

Don’t even think that way, because you don’t have to. You can reclaim your life and travel. It will just be different (see our tips for travelling with incontinence). 

“Strokes survivors can travel anywhere, it just takes planning,” says Barbara Moore, Community Coordinator at Linking Survivors with Survivors.

“I know stroke survivors who are constantly looking for their next travel adventure. It just takes a different way of approaching your travel plans.”

You know your limits, and with the proper comfort and incontinence protection - disposable or washable options or pads or liners, underwear and wipes - the road is yours.

Washable Swimwear Options

Washable chair pads

Consider our PeapodMats line - versatile and waterproof chair pads that are unlike other conventional chair pads. The difference with PeapodMats? They lie flat, on top of your furniture and stay in place with a grippy material on the back of the mat. 

PeapodMats are designed to protect furniture from all sorts of fluids. Machine washable and dryer safe, portable and in all kinds of fun colours, they'll make any road trip a breeze:

Underwear liners for men or women

Disposable protective underwear designed for men vs women

After Stroke – a March of Dimes Canada program

One of the amazing things about finding support through the After Stroke program is how it connects you across the country with other survivors, gyms that are equipped with stroke-friendly physical fitness facilities and so much more.

Stay Connected, not isolated

If you are in a new location, After Stroke helps you out, linking you to other caregivers or services that you might require. It is all about helping you to connect and re-embracing your life.

Plan ahead

When you are planning your trip, think ahead. Just like you may plan your medication, plan as well for any incontinence needs.

• Will you need bed pads?
• Will you need briefs, pads, liners or guards, or chair pads for the car, plane or train?
• If you are travelling across Canada, you can plan to have supplies delivered to your destination; so you don’t need to over pack your car.
• Stroke survivors may have trouble with long uninterrupted rides. If “holding your waters” is an issue, plan to make your journey comfortable.

Isolation is not the new normal

Don’t make isolation a part of surviving your stroke, think of it as the new normal. Incontinence may not be forever, and don’t let it stop you from enjoying your busy, travelling life.

Get connected, get protected, and get on with it all.

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Barbara Moore is a Community Coordinator with the Linking Survivors with Survivors Program at the March of Dimes Canada. She loves her job and the work she does in the community. Watch this space as she will share more experiences working with stroke survivors in future blog posts with MyLiberty.Life.

About the Stroke Recovery Canada® – One of Canada’s best kept secrets, the Stroke Recovery Program has been working in communities across Canada for more than 60 years. Supported by March of Dimes Canada, Stroke Recovery Canada is a completely volunteer-led program, that provides information for stroke survivors, their family members, caregivers and friends. You can call for information at the Stroke Recovery Canada® Warmline (1-888-540-6666).

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