Caring for a stroke survivor at home can be extremely challenging especially when the family caregiver is unaware of what is expected of them as a caregiver. Your role as a caregiver is to help patients recover from the physical, emotional and cognitive challenges associated with stroke.

A stroke is a type of brain injury where survivors have trouble moving, thinking or talking or weakness on one side of the body. Strokes are common in older people with three-quarters of the cases occurring in adults over 65 years, however, strokes can occur in individuals in any age bracket.

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Stages in Recovering From Stroke

The first stage is treatment in a hospital for acute care which helps the patient survive or prevent another stroke.

Spontaneous recovery is the second stage which occurs naturally as some lost abilities begin to come back.

Rehabilitation as the third stage helps the patient gain and keep lost abilities as they work towards more independence.

Finally, recovery takes place when the patient returns home or an assisted living community where they engage in tasks that target a full recovery.

For families that opt for home care, the process can be challenging, yet fulfilling if care is given correctly. Here are a few tips on how you can provide home care for a stroke patient:

Strictly Adhere to Expert Advise

As soon as a stroke patient is approved for discharge, information on care at home is provided to the family. It is important for the family caregiver to strictly adhere to this information, to maintain the regular appointments and keep in touch for any follow-up or observations during care.

Make Structural Adjustments at Home

Adjustments should be based on the severity of the stroke; therefore, you might require a hospital bed, a walker or a wheelchair at home. While healthcare practitioners will advise you on the required equipment, you also need to make modifications for safety to prevent falls and to improve comfort.

Educate Yourself

Treat care giving as an opportunity to learn about stroke and your loved one’s condition. Read and research through the internet, talking to medical experts or participating in programs offered in the hospital. At the end of the day, the more you learn, the better care you will provide.

Keep and Update a Medical Record

You need to document the progress that the patient is making as well as any occurrences during care and updates on their medication. This will be helpful in understanding how they behave or react to medication or certain physical activity related to their rehabilitation.

Encourage Rehabilitation Exercises

Ensure that you encourage your loved one to engage in all the recommended rehabilitation exercises and activities. When you notice an improvement, you can try and push them to build on the progress by carefully pushing their limits. The goal is to help them regain their independence in day-to-day activities.

Purpose to Give Your Best

Care giving is compassionate and should always come from the heart. Make it your goal to give the best care and support to your loved one. Experiment until you are able to find what works best by trying new activities, communicating and creating a schedule for daily activities. Enjoy new experiences and avoid making comparisons of how life is and how it was prior to the stroke.

Be a Keen Caregiver

Learn to be observant and on the look out for signs of another stroke. If you notice anything outside the normal rehabilitation process, get in touch with a doctor as soon as possible. Open communication with your loved one also allows them to honestly share how they are feeling and how they can contribute to care.

Give Emotional Support

The effects of stroke stretch into a loved one’s emotional well-being and sometimes they will find themselves struggling emotionally. As a caregiver, you also double up as a companion and confidant, therefore, it is important to be the shoulder they need to lean on before and after their rehabilitation.

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Join or Create A Support Group

As you are trying to adjust or learn more about stroke rehabilitation, a support group can be a safe space where you can share your experiences and problems as well as come up with solutions. It can also be a good platform to socialize and develop friendships. Avoid comparing yourself with other caregivers because every situation is different.

Understand Your Limits

Do not ignore yourself in the process of caring for a loved one. You need to acknowledge when it is time to take a break or get help from a loved or reliable respite care. Realize that asking for help or needing a break is not a sign of weakness, but it is a way to rejuvenate and relax.

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