News: Students care at stroke camp

FOR STROKE SURVIVORS and their caregivers life can be lonely and isolated once professional treatment ends.

Providing continued care and respite is the driving force behind Stroke Camp Northwest, a partnership between Portland State and Pacific University in Forest Grove. For a week in August every year, stroke survivors and their families have fun and learn new skills with PSU speech and hearing students and Pacific physical and occupational therapy students.

The program won the first-ever Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award for Campus-Community Partnerships in April. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter presented the award herself to faculty responsible for the camp. With the recognition came $10,000 for the program.

Each year, students and faculty plan and put on the camp activities, ranging from adapted tai chi to crafts for charity. Help does not end with camp. Students and faculty run self-help groups throughout the year, and they have created a Web site for camp goers to keep in touch with each other.