What Steps Should You Take to Return to Work After a Stroke?

May 2022
By NTI

May is stroke awareness month. One important step after recovery is to decide whether to return to work, followed by what steps you should take if you want to go back.

“We know a lot of people are anxious to return to work after their doctors give them the OK,” said Alan Hubbard, NTI’s Chief Operating Officer, “But there are important things you must check off before it is safe to go back to work. We always caution people on their return to make sure they are ready. My team has the experience and training to know what to do to get you back to work.” For more than 25 years, NTI has been helping Americans with disabilities and their family caregivers find remote jobs with free training and job placement services. You can register at www.nticentral.org.

You should first get the OK from your medical professional to make sure going back to work is a safe and a good option for you. The American Stroke Association has a medical guide that helps you know whether you should go back to work.  

“Once deciding to go back to work, the first question you should ask is can I go back to the job I had before?” said Hubbard. “If that isn’t possible, you then need to figure out your next career move. Some people feel safer in their own homes then traveling into an office after a stoke. For those people, remote work is the best option. Returning to work on a part-time basis to start is another thing to consider. If possible, you should slow and ease back into the workforce while you learn your current stamina.”

The American Stroke Association has identified steps that are “low barriers” to returning to work, including making sure headaches aren’t limiting your activities, getting enough sleep, not needing to nap, and thinking skills to be able to return.

“We have people who start back to work in split shifts so they can have time to rest and work on their health,” said Hubbard. “You want to avoid going back to long hours with little rest and jeopardize your recovery.”

If you go back to work, make sure you are working with your employer to have the necessary accommodations available for you to be successful. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to make things accessible for you.

The American Stroke Association has a helpful guide to help you return to work, which you can read here.