These clinical practice tools and stroke awareness materials have been created by subject matter experts within the stroke system to support best practices. Resources are listed below in alphabetical order. Click the title to access the tool or website.
Aerobic Exercise after Stroke - Clinician's Guide
Aerobic exercise can be helpful to improve physical and cognitive recovery after stroke.
Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery
Aerobic Exercise after Stroke - Patient's Guide
Aerobic exercise can be helpful to improve physical and cognitive recovery after stroke. This guide has been written for patients.
Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery
Aphasia
This short video is an introduction to aphasia post-stroke, and how to better ensure meaningful communication with people experiencing aphasia.
Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network
Aphasia Series (Communication) Videos
Practical post-stroke tutorials: “How to enhance conversations when the person you care about has communication deficits”.
Champlain Regional Stroke Network, Aphasia Centre of Ottawa, Heart and Stroke Foundation
Aphasia Institute Supported Conversation (SCA™) eModule
This short, self-paced online module is a prerequisite for Aphasia Institute workshops and is hosted on the Aphasia Institute Community Hub, an online platform that enables healthcare professionals to register for professional training and to join webinars.
Aphasia Institute Supported Conversation (SCA™) Resources
Free pictographic resources called 'Participics' are available to help facilitate conversations between health care practitioners and people with aphasia. They use techniques of 'Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia™ (SCA™) and can also be used to help communicate with people who have limited English language skills. Log in to the Community Hub to access Participics or browse other resources here.
Champlain Community Support Network
This is an online platform where members of the community and healthcare providers can search for services, book intake appointments, and refer directly to community services. Many community and therapy services appropriate for stroke survivors and their family members in the Champlain LHIN are listed and receive referrals through this site. Search the Champlain Community Support Network for services then request your free login to link your patients to the services they need in the community.
Community Exercise Classes
Free virtual (online) community exercise classes for stroke survivors within the Champlain region. All fitness levels welcome! The program includes aerobic exercise, balance, strengthening, and stretching components. Exercises can be modified for sitting or standing. Offered in English only at this time. See the flyer for more information on how to join.
Family Physiotherapy, Heart Wise Exercise at the Ottawa Heart Institute, and the Champlain Regional Stroke Network, funded through Home and Community Care Support Services Champlain.
Driving After a Stroke in Ontario
Driving After a TIA in Ontario
These patient-focused resources guide the stroke survivor's return to driving following their stroke. They are intended for use by both health care providers (to help guide the return to driving conversation) and patients (by demystifying the return to driving process). The appendices provide additional information and aphasia-friendly flow charts to simplify this journey. The booklets are available in several languages:
Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network
Driving: Returning to Driving Toolkit for Clients and their Therapists
Given that a stroke may impact skills needed to return to driving, this toolkit focuses on physical, visual, and cognitive exercises clients can work on while they recover, with the goal to improve skills needed for an eventual return to driving. View the "Return to Driving" toolkit and FAQs
St Joseph's Health Care, London, Ontario
Dysphagia
This short video is an introduction to dysphagia post-stroke and strategies to help patients who are having difficulties swallowing.
Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network
GRASP - the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program
GRASP is an arm and hand exercise program for people with stroke. The program manual and GRASP books are available free of charge. It is highly recommended that patients use GRASP with assistance from family or caregivers. GRASP has been tested by a randomized controlled trial and the results have been published and shown to be effective.
University of British Columbia
Hemiplegic Arm Protocol
This package has been developed to assist health care providers interested in the implementation of the best practice guideline: Management of the Hemi Arm.
Southwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network
Intimacy and Sex after Stroke
Sexual dysfunction following stroke is common and patients often need help from their health care team to address this. Aphasia-friendly brochures have been developed by the University Health Network - Toronto Stroke Rehab clinicians. They cover frequently asked questions about sex and intimacy after stroke, information on the impact of stroke medications on sexual function, and comfortable and supportive positions to use after stroke. There are also tools to help you address sexual health and intimacy, including a goal-setting script and referral checklist. To help your patient connect with a certified sex therapist, go to http://www.bestco.info/
University Health Network - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
iWalkAssess Approach to Walking Assessment Post-Stroke
This clinical toolkit is available to help physiotherapists use an evidence-informed approach to administering the 10-metre walk test and the 6-minute walk test with people post-stroke. The iWalk Toolkit includes a guide, videos, and an app called iWalkAssess to help interpret test performance, educate patients, and set goals.
University of Toronto
Occupational Therapy Toolkit
The Occupational Therapy Toolkit includes 354 full-page illustrated patient handouts that you can print and give to your patients, based on current research and best practices. It is available as an eBook in PDF format or as a print book. French handouts are also available by emailing the author at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cheryl Hall, OT
OT Toolkit for Assessment & Treatment of the Upper Extremity
The purpose of this toolkit is to improve the consistency of implementing best practice management of the upper extremity following stroke. It provides information to assist occupational therapists with clinical decision making as they assess, treat and educate clients recovering from stroke. The affected upper extremity has been categorized into low, intermediate or high levels to guide occupational therapists with selecting appropriate assessment tools and treatments.
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Post-Stroke Checklist
This Post-Stroke Checklist (PSC) has been developed to help healthcare professionals identify post-stroke problems amenable to treatment and subsequent referral. The PSC is a brief, easy-to-use tool intended for completion with the patient and the help of a caregiver, if necessary. PSC administration provides a standardized approach for the identification of long-term problems in stroke survivors and facilitates appropriate referral for treatment.
Global Stroke Community Advisory Panel, Heart and Stroke Foundation
Reactive Balance Training Toolkit (Rebal Kit)
This valuable toolkit was designed to help people practice and improve control of their balance reactions and prevent falls, especially after a stroke. It is for healthcare professionals who treat clients for problems with balance or increased falls risk.
KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network (UHN) with support from the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery
Rehabilitation Intensity for Stroke
Learn more about rehabilitation intensity requirements and why they are important for patient outcomes. Test your knowledge at the end with a quiz. Also download the Rehab Intensity FAQ sheet
Ontario Regional Stroke Networks
Rehabilitation – Key Messages and Resources for Healthcare Providers
This document is a reference for healthcare providers working in stroke rehabilitation. It summarizes two to three key messages for each stroke rehab topic (left column) and provided links to websites where you can find more information (hyperlinks in right-hand column).
Champlain Regional Stroke Network
Return to Work Self-Assessment
This online self-assessment guide focuses on individual recovery efforts and provides information about one's ability or readiness to return to work.
Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network
Self-Management Toolkit: A Resource for Health Care Providers
This toolkit provides healthcare professionals with the basics for helping patients become better self-managers of their health care. It contains evidence-based practical tools and resources that providers can use to support patients and families.
South West Ontario LHIN
Living with Stroke Series
This video series about living with stroke includes information from various professionals that may be part of the care team, along with stroke survivor stories.
Heart & Stroke Foundation
Stroke in Young Adults
This resource book for young adults, their families, and caregivers is intended to complement other stroke resources.
Heart and Stroke Foundation
TACLS Quick Reference Guides
This series of resource sheets about Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations is based on the discontinued TACLS publication (Taking Action for Optimal Community and Long-Term Stroke Care).
Heart and Stroke Foundation
ViaTherapy App
Best practice and evidence-based recovery interventions for upper extremity stroke rehabilitation – at your fingertips.
Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, University Health Networks
Virtual Care Toolkit
This toolkit for conducting virtual visits covers acute stroke, stroke prevention, and rehab, and provides guidance on conducting virtual visits all while meeting stroke best practices.
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Virtual Creative Engagement for Older Adults
This guide helps long-term care teams address the under-stimulation and loneliness felt by residents. The guide features a curated list of free virtual services appropriate for older adults with various health conditions and ability levels.
Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care
Your Stroke Journey
This guidebook was produced for adults who have had a stroke. Caregivers, family members and friends may also find helpful strategies to support loved ones in their recovery and return to daily life.
Heart and Stroke Foundation