Purpose
To promote effective coping with common life changes that follow a stroke.
To promote a sense of wellness, empowerment and self-satisfaction.
To promote physical fitness, flexibility, strength, endurance and balance through exercise.
To promote communication through group and computer exercises.
Pathfinders Program Activities 
Communication Skills Classes
Physical Exercise Classes
Computer-based Speech Classes
Is Pathfinders for me?
Pathfinders is for mature adults who have had a stroke and have completed their hospital therapy. Individuals must meet the following requirements:
Have a medically verifiable, post-stroke impairment.
Demonstrate sufficient self-help skills to manage basic bodily functions or provide own attendant care.
Have sufficient language comprehension skills to benefit from the education program.
Consistently refrain from behaviors which deny the personal right or safety of others, and
Have the potential to benefit from instruction in a group setting.
Program Information
No cost
Program Times:
Fall and Spring Semesters, Winter & Summer sessions
Communication classes:
Mondays (3 levels of skill)
Wednesdays (computer-based)
Physical exercise classes:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Place:
Emeritus College classrooms at
1227 2nd Street
Instructors:
Jeanne Adams, Registered Occupational Therapist
Jami Evans, Registered Occupational Therapist
Louise Feinberg, Speech Pathologist
Lolly Krissman, Speech Pathologist
Jiane Li, Registered Occupational Therapist
Bonnie Nakasuji, Registered Occupational Therapist
How Do I Enroll?
Students must contact Sandi Burnett, Disabled Student Services at (310) 434-4442 prior to class attendance. Waiting lists are common for most classes. Classes are offered free of charge.
Stroke Etiquette
Here are some simple suggestions to help communicate with individuals who have had a stroke.
Use yourself as a guideline by checking how you would feel if someone treated you the same way.
Talk directly to the person rather than through another person.
Help the person to look ahead in life, not back.
Avoid comparisons with others. No two individuals are identical.
Offer to shake hands as you would normally greet a non-impaired person. If they are unable to greet you this way, they will let you know.
I f you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted before assisting.Then ask for and listen to instructions from the person.
IF SPEAKING IS A PROBLEM
Support and encourage speech efforts.
Don't talk about the person as if he or she were not there.
Speak as you would with any adult or, perhaps, a little slower.The person's inability to find a word does not mean that he or she has lost intelligence or knowledge.
Don't insist that the person give accurate responses, or "talk right."
The person wants to do nothing more than just that.
Ask direct questions requiring a simple "yes" or "no" response rather than a complex answer. "Are you feeling well?" rather than , "How are you?"
Encourage gestures and "talking with hands" or pictures whenever possible.
Don't pretend to understand when you don't. Repeat what you have understood and allow the person to respond.
Don't talk for the person unless absolutely necessary.
Treat the person as an adult.
In case of emergencies, ask the person for printed information so that you can contact a responsible party. Call 911 should a physical emergency occur.
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