Caregiver Hero:
Lana Wilhelm

When Lana Wilhelm’s husband survived a devastating stroke three years ago, she felt a strong need for support, education and resources for her new caregiving role. But she felt isolated and struggled to find the help she needed.

Wanting others in her situation to have support, Lana started by writing Stroke and the Spouse: A Guide for the Survivor’s Care Partner. With topics from improving sleep to summer heat and dehydration to respite care, the book covers the partner’s caregiving role from the first 911 call through the first few years of recovery.

In addition, Lana has spent a lot of time networking and reaching out to people caring for stroke patients in the St. Louis area, where she lives, and around Missouri. She has participated in support groups in several hospital systems, providing bedside support and doing presentations. Her outreach spans from Mercy Hospital St. Louis’s annual stroke symposium to the Association of Stroke Coordinators meeting. She further extends support and information through her Facebook page and a website.

Lana also launched an online support community with blogs on topics including eating challenges for stroke patients, caring for the caregiver, taking time for self-care as a caregiver and more. The website also has support groups for caregivers, information on preparing your home for stroke recovery and many other resources.

Lana has helped many people find comfort in the lonely world of caregiving. Most of all, she hopes her efforts provide families with a roadmap and hope while facing the life-changing crisis of a stroke.