Stroke is a significant and growing health issue in Australia, affecting more than 440,000 people living with its long-term effects. It occurs frequently – about every 11 minutes – with more than 45,000 new cases each year.
While often associated with older age, stroke also impacts younger people, with one in four occurring in those under 65, and it places a substantial economic burden on the community.
Sleep is fundamental to recovery, yet for many people living with the long-term effects of stroke, good sleep can feel frustratingly out of reach. Difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking feeling unrefreshed are common after a stroke. Some individuals also experience excessive daytime sleepiness, where they unintentionally fall asleep during the day.
These challenges don’t just affect survivors themselves-they often extend to the informal carers or support persons who support them day to day.
Research shows that sleep helps the brain adapt and rewire, strengthens memory and improves the ability to relearn movement skills, essential components of stroke rehabilitation.
Poor sleep after stroke has been linked to fatigue, low mood, difficulties with thinking and memory, reduced participation in daily life, and even a higher risk of future health problems.
A 2025 observational study found that more than 60% of survivors reported insomnia or poor sleep quality, significantly associated with caregiver burden and slower functional recovery.
These findings underscore the importance of supporting both survivors and carers, an approach now embedded in the Australian and New Zealand Living Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management, which advise screening for sleep disorders and targeted interventions.
Yet in practice, sleep concerns are still often overlooked once people return home and resume life in the community.
Sleep as a shared experience
For many stroke survivors, sleep disruption doesn’t occur in isolation. Partners, family members and other informal carers often experience broken sleep themselves, whether due to worry, night-time caregiving tasks, or changes to routines and roles.
Over time, this shared sleep disruption can take a toll on physical health, emotional wellbeing and the capacity to cope.
Read more: Stroke recovery isn’t equal: Why women are missing out on lifesaving medications
Despite this, there’s limited research that brings together the perspectives of both survivors of stroke and their carers to understand how problems with sleep are experienced, managed and supported in the community. Even less is known about what types of sleep-related information or support people find helpful, acceptable and realistic in everyday life.
Addressing a gap in stroke recovery research
Researchers from Monash University are working to address this gap through a new study focused on sleep health in stroke survivors and their informal carers or support persons. The project aims to better-understand:
- how sleep difficulties are experienced after stroke
- the impact of poor sleep on wellbeing, daily functioning, and recovery
- what types of support or resources do people feel are missing or would be most useful.
By centring lived experience, the research seeks to inform the future development of accessible, user-informed sleep resources in stroke that align with guideline recommendations and reflect real-world needs.
“This research allows us to explore the important role sleep plays in stroke recovery and how sleep might change, not just for the survivor of stroke but their loved ones, too,” says Dr Aislin Lalor, co-investigator with the REST project team.
Importantly, this work recognises sleep as a shared part of recovery. Understanding sleep through both survivor and carer perspectives is essential for developing support that is practical, inclusive and sustainable.
Why this research matters now
As more people survive stroke – including younger adults – and live longer with its effects, attention is increasingly shifting towards long-term quality of life.
With growing recognition of sleep as an important part of recovery, there’s a clear need to strengthen the evidence in this area.
Sleep sits at the intersection of physical recovery, mental health, and caregiving, yet it remains one of the least visible aspects of stroke recovery. By better-understanding sleep after stroke, this research aims to support better screening, more meaningful conversations about sleep in routine care and, ultimately, improved wellbeing for both survivors and those who care for them.
Interested in learning more?
Adults who have experienced a stroke, as well as informal carers supporting someone after a stroke, may be eligible to take part in an online survey (and subsequent focus groups), exploring sleep and wellbeing. Participation is voluntary and helps researchers better-understand the gap and what support is needed in the community.
For more information about the study, contact the REST Project research team directly.
The FAST test – recognising the signs of stroke
Using the FAST test involves asking these simple questions:
- Face: Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
- Arms: Can they lift both arms?
- Speech: Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
- Time: Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away.
