POP Health ministry presents...
a 4-part series on Stroke Care
-
OUR PRESENTER: Debra Battistella, MS, OTR/L
Debra Battistella is a physical medicine and community-based occupational therapist with 25 years of experience helping adults and older adults live their best lives. Prior to moving to Florida, she held a tenured position as an Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Educator and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in Western New York. Always passionate about teaching and advancing the occupational therapy profession, Debra continues to welcome and mentor students as a Fieldwork Educator.
She has developed and implemented numerous evidence-based programs across diverse settings—including early mobility in the intensive care unit, stroke recovery, dementia care, academic support services, and community-based well-being programs for older adults and adults living in group homes. Her work spans the individual, group, and population levels and is grounded in the occupational therapy philosophy that meaningful activity drives recovery and well-being.
Debra is President of Creative Concepts in Occupational Therapy, LLC, co-hosts The Noggins and Neurons: Brain Injury Recovery Simplified podcast, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Red Barn Nature’s Way Foundation in Western New York.
PART 1 - Stroke: Maximizing Recovery and Independence at Home
Recover after stroke doesn’t end in the hospital or after rehab—it continues every day at home. In this session we will explore how neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to heal and adapt, serves as the foundation for recovery. Learn how to apply these principles to daily routines and discover key components of an effective home program designed to maximize safety, independence, and meaningful progress.
Date: January 15, 2026
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Conesa Center
RSVP BELOW!
PART 2 - Stroke: Building a Quality Care Team for Optimal Health & Aging with Focus on Stroke Care
In this session we will explore how to recognize the qualities of a strong care team and take practical steps toward building one that supports optimal health, aging, and recovery after stroke. Participants will create a structured outline for their own quality care team, identifying needed roles and strategies for selecting the right members.
Date: February 19, 2026
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Conesa Center
RSVP BELOW!
PART 3 - Stroke: Resilience: What it is and Why It Matters Especially with a Diagnosis of Stroke
Building resilience supports healing for both the mind and body. Together, we’ll explore everyday ways to nurture calm, strength, and connection with yourself and others—essential components of recovery for stroke survivors and their care partners.
Date: March 19, 2026
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Conesa Center
RSVP BELOW!
PART 4 - Stroke: Find Grace, Compassion & Connection—Especially with a Diagnosis of Stroke
Healing after stroke involves more than physical recovery—it’s also about finding grace for yourself and others. In this session, participants will explore how compassion and connections can deepen resilience, strengthen care team relationships, and foster healing—bringing renewed meaning to daily life.
Date: April 16, 2026
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Conesa Center
RSVP BELOW!