Closing the Gap for Caregivers and Care Partners
Closing the Gap for Caregivers and Care Partners by Lana W. [June 23, 2026]
It has been 5 years since my husband’s stroke, and our lives have changed forever. My background is nursing and when the stroke occurred, I thought I would be prepared to care for him above all people. What the reality was that the role of Care Partner is significantly different from the role of the medical professionals. I felt I could impact the gap between these parties. Once my husband stabilized, my mission to change the caregiver/Care Partner experience began.
In 2025, the American Stroke Association awarded me with the Caregiver of the Year award. This award recognized not only the care I was providing but mainly my mission to close the above gap. We as caregivers and Care Partners are the individuals who help the survivor through a very challenging crisis while trying to maintain some sort of life for ourselves. No one prepared me for the journey we were to embrace.
After visiting families post-stroke, I realized I need to use my experience to help others. As the author of “Stroke and the Spouse” and “Stroke and the Caregiver,” these resources help so many better understand and navigate this new life. But I needed to do more, hence the development of my website www.strokecaregiverconnection.com”, a caregiver course and a new podcast “Both Sides of the Bed”.
As a caregiver initially and now a Care Partner, I needed support and education on this new role and not much was out there. Early this year I attended the International Stroke Conference as a guest of the American Stroke Association. I was overwhelmed by all the research being done regarding stroke and it gave me great hope for the future. The American Stroke Association had a separate event for the stroke survivors and caregivers and Care Partners. What I heard repeatedly was that the caregivers were not prepared to go home. Caregivers expressed the need to connect with others for support, additional education on what to expect not only medically but also the emotional changes, and how to find resources. As I spoke with so many, I was excited to see the relief when they were telling their story to someone that got it.
The American Stroke Association has been a tremendous help to me on my journey. This includes the exposure of the needs of the caregiver and Care Partner. But we as individuals can also spread the word and support for our fellow caregivers.
Thank you.
Lana W., RN, BSN, MHA
Founder: CarePower Connect (Formally Stroke Caregiver Connection)
Author: "Stroke and the Spouse" and "Stroke and the Caregiver"
Website: www.strokecaregiverconnection.com