Stroke Solutions in Action: Reaching the Latino Community

By Cesar Rolon

Culturally Tailored Education Campaigns

Organizations like the American Heart Association, Latino Health Access, and UnidosUS are working to bring stroke awareness to Spanish-speaking communities through:

• Bilingual stroke risk materials

• "Actúa Rápido" (Act FAST) social campaigns

• Workshops at churches, schools, and community centers

  
  

🩺 Community Health Events

Events like Health Equity Fiestas, farmworker health fairs, and mobile clinics provide free or low-cost screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose—tools that detect stroke risks early.

Promotoras & Trusted Messengers

Community health workers (promotoras de salud) are crucial in educating families in culturally relevant ways, providing peer support, and even guiding stroke survivors in rehab and recovery.

Healing After Stroke: The Latino Resilience

Surviving a stroke is just the beginning. Many Latinos face language gaps in rehab therapy, lack of mental health support, and limited family caregiving resources.

Programs like Rehabilitation Without Walls, stroke support groups in Spanish, and Medicaid-covered home therapy can help bridge that gap—but awareness is key.

A Call to Action for Our Families

If you are reading this, take a moment to:

• Share the FAST symptoms with your family

• Schedule a check-up to know your blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol

• Attend a local stroke awareness event this May

• Encourage older family members to get screened—even if they feel “fine”

  
  

Resources to Help You Stay Informed and Protected

• American Stroke Association (Spanish site): www.stroke.org/es

• Latino Health Access: www.latinohealthaccess.org

• NHLBI Stroke Risk Tools (Spanish): www.nhlbi.nih.gov

• Vive Tu Vida En Forma Health Fiestas: Local bilingual health events with free screenings