This World Stroke Day – ActFAST
Every minute counts.
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24 October 2025
News
| Home Care
Each year, on 29 October, the global community marks World Stroke Day, organised by the World Stroke Organization. The day shines a spotlight on the importance of symptom recognition, fast action and improved care for people affected by stroke.
Every minute counts because early detection and rapid response can literally be life-saving and life-changing.
Stroke in Australia: a national challenge
In 2023, more than 45,000 Australians – one every 11 minutes – experienced a stroke, according to the Stroke Foundation. Of these, more than 75 per cent were first-time strokes, meaning around one in four were recurrent.
Without stronger prevention, the Stroke Foundation warns that number could climb to 72,000 strokes each year by 2050.
Why FAST matters
Stroke is a type of Cerebrovascular Disease and a major health challenge worldwide. Cerebrovascular Disease is a leading cause of death and disability, with almost half a million Australians currently living with the effects of stroke in their communities.
Every minute that a stroke goes untreated, brain cells die and the window for effective therapies narrows. That’s why recognising the signs early and seeking help immediately is vital.
The FAST acronym can help you remember the signs:
- Face drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech difficulty
- Time to call emergency
When in doubt, call 000 immediately and say, “it’s a stroke,” even if symptoms are brief. Quick response can mean the difference between survival, recovery and long-term disability.
Prevention matters too. Many strokes are linked to manageable risks such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, inactivity, poor diet and obesity. Making small, healthy changes today can help protect your brain tomorrow.
BaptistCare at home: helping you prevent or recover from a stroke
At BaptistCare at home, we help Australians maintain or improve their health, functional ability and quality of life as they age. By supporting people to live well at home – physically, mentally and socially – we help reduce the risk of life-changing health events.
For those who have experienced a stroke, we’re here every step of the way. Our approach is guided by our Well-Living principles: Be Well, Think Well and Connect Well.
We provide hands-on support in the comfort of home, offering services that help people maintain or rebuild mobility, confidence and connection. Every care plan is tailored to individual needs, and we partner with families to build a pathway to greater independence.
Our services include:
- Nursing care for help with medication management, health monitoring and rehabilitation support
- Allied health services such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy to improve function, strength, balance and mobility
- Personal and social support including help with showering, dressing, grooming and daily routines that promote wellbeing and independence
- Domestic assistance with light cleaning, shopping and meal preparation to support healthy living at home
- Transport and respite to stay connected in the community, reduce isolation and give carers necessary breaks
We bring this all together through our Health & Well-Living Assessment. Conducted by allied health professionals in your home, this holistic assessment identifies your strengths, risks and goals.
Together, we co-design a plan to maintain function, foster independence and connection and support recovery.
What you can do this World Stroke Day
- Learn FAST and teach it to others – it only takes seconds to remember but it could save your life, the life of someone you love, or years of disability.
- Reduce your risk – manage blood pressure and cholesterol, stay active, eat well and avoid smoking.
- Talk about stroke – awareness and open conversations can lead to earlier action and better outcomes.
- Share this message – help your friends, neighbours and family recognise the signs.
If stroke impacts you or someone you love, BaptistCare at home is here – by your side, at home, on your terms.
For more information about BaptistCare at home and how we help you or someone you love live well at home, visit: https://baptistcare.org.au/home-care/