According to World Stroke Organization, nearly 12 million people worldwide are affected by stroke annually. The rehabilitation journey is not an easy one, especially for the elderly. Not to mention the emotional toll stroke takes on a survivor.
Patients want to speed up stroke recovery and are eager to get back to their previous life. Often it is advised to stay at the hospital under a doctor’s supervision, but many seniors want to stay at home in comfortable surroundings.
Try to put yourself in the survival’s shoes, guide and support them. In this article, we give tips on how to deal with stroke patients at home.
We understand that it can be hard and challenging to do on your own. If you need help with home care for stroke patients in Nassau County, or other parts of New York, you can always count on Galaxy Home Care.
How to Deal With a Stroke Patient at Home
Hospitals and care services provide professional and skilled nursing care for patients with different stroke severity. But not all want or can afford such care. So here are some tips on how to deal with stroke patients at home:
1. Daily exercise
After a stroke, a survivor struggles with motor impairment. Stroke survivors need more attention when taken care of at home. Daily rehabilitation exercises are best during stroke recovery. Regular movements are the perfect remedy for stroke and do wonders in rewiring the brain.
2. Understanding and help
Stroke patients often struggle with daily tasks, but still want to remain independent. Try to be helpful only when asked, do not be intrusive.
Alongside physical help comes emotional support. Stroke patients can go through uncontrolled outbursts of various emotions or suffer from anxiety, depression, and grief. Once again, be understanding and sympathetic in these challenging times.
3. Tips from professionals
Professional help from skilled workers is essential. If you are taking care of stroke survivors at home, ask them questions. They will give all the important information.
4. Record medication side effects
The number of medications that stroke survivors are on is immense. Remember that all medications can cause side effects and must be closely monitored. To make it easier, create a log where you keep symptoms, behavior, and mood changes of the person you care for.
5. Organize a medical history
Keep medical documents and records organized. Put all paperwork in the same place and take the medical history for the doctor’s check-ups.
6. Try to prevent another stroke
Proper care at home and the clinic means that stroke side effects are getting more elusive. However, regardless of the state of a patient, new side effects can spring up. One stroke makes the life of survivors troublesome, and with each subsequent stroke, the brain does not get resilient.
If you spot something unusual, always consult a doctor. For instance, if your loved ones feel dizzy or suffer from splitting headaches, start losing vision, feel numbness or weakness on one side of the body and even have problems sitting up straight – do not ignore these warning signs.
Especially be on the lookout for the symptoms which vanish quickly. It is very common to have a TIA (transient ischemic attack), known as mini-strokes. Doctors claim that these symptoms go away fast and can simply get unnoticed. On top of everything, people with TIA symptoms are prone to higher risks of a subsequent stroke.
There are two main categories of stroke:
- Hemorrhagic stroke
Another name would be bleeding stroke. It is recommended to have blood pressure control. At home, it is advised to have a more balanced diet with healthier and greener options. Combine good nourishment with regular exercises, such as walking or bicycling. Add to the mix of quality home care prescribed medication from doctors.
- Ischemic stroke
Ischemic or clotting stroke results in clots. To determine what caused this clot, a doctor should examine blood vessels in the head and neck. A typical recommendation is aspirin and cholesterol medication.
Once you recognize above-mentioned symptoms or witness your loved ones having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Bonus tip: Educate yourself
If you are a caregiver at home, there is much burden on you and always a lot to learn. So do not miss out on chances to learn more about strokes and the condition of your loved ones.
Try to find support groups nearby, or ask hospitals or caregiving services if they offer something like this. In support groups, stroke patients can create amiable connections, bond with people, and take the mind off their illness. It can boost the recovery process.
When you care for a stroke patient at home, it can be exhausting without extra help. We provide home care for stroke patients in New York City, and other areas, and our experts help clients and seniors live comfortably and independently.
What to Avoid When Caring for a Stroke Patient at Home
Stroke is a serious medical condition, and patients who are dealing with the aftermath require professional care. We described how you can help your loved ones after the stroke. However, over-caring, as well as a lack of basic knowledge, can be harmful sometimes.
Below, we will share with you “don’ts” when you look after stroke patients at home.
1. Lose time
Detecting symptoms is one thing, another crucial aspect is not to lose time to see if they go away or not. When you see that your relative is having a stroke, do not play with time because it can cause serious long-term disability.
Immediately seek help, as it will increase the chance of survival. Paramedics will faster recognize the symptoms and give any required emergency assistance.
2. No aspirin
An old maiden’s tale says that aspirin can be a good medication for stroke. But there are many types of stroke, and taking aspirin can be harmful in some cases.
3. No food or drinks
Usually, stroke causes difficulty with muscle control and affects the ability to swallow. So, it’s best to avoid eating and drinking. This way, you can eliminate choking hazards.
Professional health care for a stroke patient at home
Healthcare providers like Galaxy Home Care put their patients first and understand how to care for a stroke patient at home.
With us, your loved ones will age with love and get quality personal care. Our experts aim for a speedy but comfortable stroke rehabilitation process. At Galaxy Home Care, stroke patients get a balanced diet and personal and empathetic assistance.
Please contact us at Galaxy Home Care for further questions and details. We are happy to be at your service.