Online Communities

My field work one placement was on an elderly rehab ward. One common reason patients were admitted to this ward was due to stroke. For my online community post I decided to investigate online support and communities for individuals that had suffered a stroke. This would fit into occupational disruption as it is often has a sudden onset that can leave a normally functioning individual impaired, therefore experiencing some form of occupational disruption to their activities of daily living.  The follow links and descriptions of 3 online communities that I found.  

The following web site is an online community for individuals who have suffered a stroke. The web site describes it as a way for survivors to, connect, share tips, stories and support each other during tough times. People are able to contribute their stories and interact through forums and private messages.

http://livingwithstroke.ning.com/

 The following website describes itself as offering support and information for people who have suffered stroke, their family, and caregivers.

People are able to interact with each other via forums, chat sessions, instant message and blogs.

Members are able to contribute their story of recovery with other members and offer each other support.

http://www.strokenetwork.org/

strokeboard.net provides education and support to survivors of stroke and their caregivers. Members are able to contribute their stories,support , and tips via chat, forums and blogs  

http://www.strokeboard.net/index.php?act=idx

Individuals may choose to contribute to this site after suffering a stroke to gain support, find out how others managed and coped, vent their frustrations,identify and talk to someone the knows and understands what they are going through. People may want to seek advice, support, help and friendship from other who know and understand their situation. These sites address the concept of occupational disruption by offering education and tips enabling individuals to cope with the disruption to their life.

Benefits and Drawbacks:

One of the main benefits of these online communities is to gain support from people who know and understanding what the person is going through. A lot of these sights say they also offer education and tips, this may also be beneficial to learn how overs where able to cope post stroke.

A drawback of these sights may be that they are specific to the country they are created in. For example the resources and information they provide may be based in America and not specific to New Zealand.