How to help a loved one after a stroke
Before you can effectively help your loved one after they have suffered a stroke, you need to take a little time to understand what a stroke is and how it can affect the body and mind. No two strokes are alike, and depending on the severity as well as the size and length of time one lasts, they can affect people differently. This means that the recovery time needed to heal will be different from one person to another.
The first couple of weeks after a person has a stroke are critical for determining the amount of damage done by the stroke. It can be a time of confusion for you, but even more so for the patient who has had the stroke. Life can suddenly feel turned completely upside down, and support will be greatly needed by the stroke survivor.
What happens during a stroke?
First, to help your loved one, you need to be educated on what happens during a stroke. During a stroke, a blood vessel that carries blood to the brain either bursts or becomes blocked. This means that the brain is not getting the oxygen that it needs to have and within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of strokes;
- Ischemic stroke – An ischemic stroke affects the largest number of stroke patients and it happens when a blood vessel is blocked by fatty deposits. You can also have a thrombotic ischemic stroke which means a blood clot has formed where the vessel is blocked.
- Hemorrhagic stroke – A hemorrhagic stroke happens when a weakened blood vessel collapses and causes a bleed into the brain. This can be caused by an aneurism or other issues.
Stroke symptoms
Knowing how to identify the symptoms of a stroke can be a great way to get help quick and cut down on the chance of long-term effects. Many doctors recommend using the F.A.S.T. acronym for strokes to identify the symptoms. These include:
F: Face drooping
A: Arm weakness
S: Speech difficulty
T: Time to call 111
Caring for your loved one after the stroke
For the best medical care for your loved one who has had a stroke, it is important to speak to an insurance agent and have a good health insurance plan in place to assist with medical bills. This is important for stroke patients as well as everyone else as quality medical care is a vital part of a healthy life.
Once your loved one has received medical treatment and their doctor deems them healthy enough to return home to continue recovery, it is vital to their healing that they have a support system in place to help them as they heal. Here are some things you can do to help your loved one recover.
- Clean the house and clear a path so they can easily navigate rooms without tripping over anything.
- If their bedroom is upstairs, try making a bed up downstairs where they won’t have to climb stairs, or be assisted going up and down steps to get to or from the bedroom.
- Have a bedpan for use so they can get to it fast if necessary.
- Talk to their doctor before they are released to see if they need a walker, wheelchair or other assistance with moving around.
- Add bed rails to the bed so they won’t slip out and fall.
- If your loved one has a feeding tube (which is extremely normal after a stroke) you need to learn to insert it (even if they have a nurse) and check it to make sure it is working correctly and not causing discomfort or coming loose.
- Strokes can, and often do, cause hearing loss as well as speech impediments. It will take time for the stroke victim to relearn speech and it is very important to show them patience and help them as they relearn how to voice their words. Try to use small hand gestures to show them things. You may even want to try to use vision boards or let them try to write things down if they are able to write.
- Many people suffer from bladder problems and will need to wear an adult diaper for a while after a stroke. Be kind about this and help with changing and cleaning to avoid infections and sores.
- One of the biggest concerns after a stroke is the anger or depression that a stroke patient may have because of what the stroke has damaged. This is common, and most stroke patients will experience some degree of both. As a loved one, show them you care and if you notice any major emotional problems, contact their physician to let them know so they can prescribe the proper medication or therapy to help.
You also need to help your loved one by making sure they can get to the doctor or therapy appointments when they are scheduled. If they need to do exercise therapy at home to regain movement, it’s a big help if you can work alongside them to make them feel more comfortable with healing. Keep in mind that just as no two strokes are the same, the healing time varies from one person to another. It may be a long road to recovery, but with patience and love from you, you can help your loved one as they recover and work towards a stable life again.
Written by Jason Mueller.