Elderly Stroke Survivors: Advice for the Caregiver
May is National Stroke Prevention Month. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, and every 3.5 minutes, someone dies of one. Strokes impact just under 800,000 people per year.
If you are caring for an elderly loved one who has had a stroke, the first step is to understand what a stroke is and the challenges your loved one is facing.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, happens when blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, preventing blood flow to the brain. Strokes typically affect one side of the body.
Physical Challenges Resulting From a Stroke
The physical effects of a stroke can vary. These include:
- Muscle weakness – Your loved one may have muscle weakness, making walking, moving their arms, or holding objects difficult. They also may be more likely to trip or fall and have difficulty rising from a sitting position.
- Foot drop – If you notice that your loved one lifts one foot higher than usual or swings their leg outward when walking, they likely have a condition called foot drop due to muscle weakness in the foot and ankle that causes the toes to catch on the ground when walking.
- General fatigue – Stroke survivors often are fatigued and quickly tire even after resting.
Cognitive Outcomes of a Stroke
The cognitive effects of a stroke can also vary. These include:
- Memory loss – This makes it hard to recall names, faces and events.
- Communication problems – Aphasia affects an individual’s ability to verbally communicate their wants and needs. A loved one may find it hard to make a simple request. Conversations are often difficult.
- Vascular dementia – This can affect reasoning, planning, judgment, memory, and other thought processes. It is common among people who have experienced a left-hemisphere stroke.
- Sound sensitivities – Stroke survivors can experience auditory overload and be sensitive to sound. A crowded room or more than one conversation at the dinner table can cause the person to fidget or act impulsively.
Your Role as a Caregiver
Caring for a senior who is living with the effects of a stroke can be a daunting responsibility. However, information can mean power. Here is how to assess your role.
The first step to take is assessing your physical capabilities. Are you strong enough to help the person get up after a fall? If you aren’t, whom can you call to help? Perhaps a neighbor would be willing? Does a relative live nearby? If your loved one is unconscious or bleeding, always call 911.
Are you able to help bathe the person? Showers are best, as bathtubs require strength to help the older person in and out of the bathtub. Is the shower equipped with handrails to provide for your safety and theirs? You can purchase a portable seat if the shower does not have one. Make sure the shower is slip-proof.
Once you have determined your physical capabilities, you can move on to assessing your other responsibilities. Following are a few examples:
- Monitoring and managing the person’s medication – Stroke survivors often have memory issues and will forget if they have taken their medication. A simple solution is a pill organizer available at your pharmacy. You also can mark your calendar for refill reminders.
- Understanding your loved one’s financial situation – If you are responsible for bill-paying, know their bank accounts and passwords. Are they receiving Social Security, a pension, or VA benefits? What rehabilitation costs are covered by their Medicare and health insurance?
- Making sure the person is eating properly – Many stroke survivors are overweight and have diabetes. The right diet can reduce weight and lower blood sugar. Always keep regular medical appointments.
- Keeping a regular schedule for at-home rehabilitation activities.
Caring for the Caregiver
Taking care of an older loved one who has had a stroke is a priority. However, your No. 1 priority should be you. Caregiving can cause both physical and mental health problems. When you feel stressed, tired or overwhelmed, reach out for help. Let your family and friends know how you’re feeling and ask them to lend a hand by taking over some responsibilities. Or, consider getting respite care from Right at Home so you have time to recharge and be at your best to help your loved one.
How Right at Home Can Help
Right at Home offers useful information on dealing with the physical and mental health issues of caregiving and helpful advice for senior caregivers. We also provide a monthly e-newsletter full of tips, information and advice about caring for your aging loved one. Sign up to receive your copy! Or, reach out to your local Right at Home office for more information.
In-Home Care Supports Stroke Recovery
Each year, almost 800,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke; 140,000 of them will die, and many more will be left with a serious disability. And as our population ages, this rate will increase — but stroke is by no means exclusively a disease of old age.
Watu Wazee Walioponywa Kiharusi: Mashauri kwa Walinzi Mei ni Mwezi wa Kitaifa wa Kuzuia Kiharusi. Kila sekunde 40, mtu fulani nchini Marekani hupata kiharusi, na kila dakika 3.5 mtu fulani anakufa kutokana na kiharusi. Kiwango cha kiharusi cha kiharusi huathiri watu 800,000 kwa mwaka. Ikiwa unamtunza mtu mzee ambaye amepatwa na kiharusi, hatua ya kwanza ni kuelewa kiharusi ni nini na changamoto ambazo mtu unayempenda anakabili. Kifafa Ni Nini? Mshtuko wa ubongo (kwa Kiingereza: stroke) ni ugonjwa wa ubongo unaosababishwa na kuziba kwa damu katika sehemu fulani ya ubongo au kuvunjika kwa mishipa ya damu kwenye ubongo. Kuna aina mbili kuu za kiharusi: kiharusi cha ischemic na kiharusi cha hemorrhagic. Kiharusi cha ischemic hutokea wakati damu inayotiririka ikizuia mtiririko wa damu kwenye ubongo. Kiharusi cha damu hutokea wakati mshipa wa damu unapovunjika, na hivyo kuzuia damu isiende kwenye ubongo. Kwa kawaida kiharusi huathiri upande mmoja wa mwili. Matatizo ya Kimwili yanayotokana na Kifafa Matokeo ya kimwili ya kifafa yanaweza kutofautiana. Hizi zinatia ndani: - Udhaifu wa misuli <unk> Mtu unayempenda huenda akawa na udhaifu wa misuli, na kufanya iwe vigumu kutembea, kusonga mikono yake, au kushikilia vitu. Pia huenda wakakosa mwendo au kuanguka na kuwa na ugumu wa kuinuka kutoka mahali walipokuwa wameketi. Ikiwa unagundua kwamba mtu unayempenda anainua mguu mmoja juu kuliko kawaida au anainua mguu wake nje wakati wa kutembea, inawezekana ana hali inayoitwa kuanguka kwa mguu kwa sababu ya udhaifu wa misuli ya mguu na mguu ambayo husababisha vidole vya miguu kugonga ardhi wakati wa kutembea. - Uchovu wa jumla <unk> Mara nyingi watu wanaopona kiharusi huchoka na huchoka upesi hata baada ya kupumzika. Matokeo ya Kuzoea ya Kifafa Matokeo ya Kuzoea ya kifafa yanaweza pia kutofautiana. Hizi ni pamoja na: - Uharibifu wa kumbukumbu <unk> Hii inafanya kuwa vigumu kukumbuka majina, nyuso na matukio. - Matatizo ya mawasiliano <unk> Aphasia huathiri uwezo wa mtu wa kuwasiliana kwa maneno matakwa na mahitaji yao. Huenda ikawa vigumu kwa mtu unayempenda kuomba jambo rahisi. Mara nyingi mazungumzo huwa magumu. - Ugonjwa wa akili wa mishipa ya damu <unk> Hilo laweza kuathiri kufikiri, kupanga mambo, kuamua, kukumbuka, na michakato mingine ya kufikiri. Ni jambo la kawaida miongoni mwa watu ambao wamepatwa na kiharusi cha upande wa kushoto wa ubongo. - Hisia za sauti <unk> Watu waliookoka kiharusi wanaweza kupata mzigo wa kusikia na kuwa na hisia za sauti. Chumba chenye watu wengi au mazungumzo zaidi ya moja mezani ya chakula cha jioni yaweza kumfanya mtu huyo awe na wasiwasi au kutenda kwa ghafula. Kuchukua huduma ya mzee ambaye anaishi na athari za kiharusi inaweza kuwa jukumu kubwa. Hata hivyo, habari zaweza kumaanisha nguvu. Hapa ni jinsi ya kutathmini jukumu lako. Hatua ya kwanza ni kuchunguza uwezo wako wa kimwili. Je, una nguvu za kutosha kumsaidia mtu huyo kusimama baada ya kuanguka? Ikiwa sivyo, unaweza kumwita nani ili akusaidie? Labda jirani angekuwa tayari? Je, kuna mtu wa ukoo anayeishi karibu? Ikiwa mtu unayempenda amekufa au anavuja damu, piga simu ya dharura. Je, unaweza kumsaidia mtu huyo kuoga? Mto ni bora, kwa kuwa bafu za kuogelea zinahitaji nguvu ili kumsaidia mzee kuingia na kutoka kwenye bafu. Je, kuna handrails kwenye bafu ili kuhakikisha usalama wako na wao? Unaweza kununua kiti kinachoweza kubebwa ikiwa bafu haina kiti hicho. Hakikisha kwamba bafu hiyo haipeperuki. Baada ya kuamua uwezo wako wa kimwili, unaweza kuendelea na tathmini ya majukumu yako mengine. Yafuatayo ni mifano michache: - Ufuatiliaji na usimamizi wa dawa ya mtu <unk> Waokokaji wa kiharusi mara nyingi huwa na matatizo ya kumbukumbu na watasahau ikiwa wamechukua dawa zao. Suluhisho rahisi ni kifaa cha kupanga dawa kinachopatikana katika duka lako la dawa. Unaweza pia kuweka alama kwenye kalenda yako kwa ajili ya kukumbusha kujaza. - Kuelewa hali ya kifedha ya mpendwa wako <unk> Ikiwa wewe ni wajibu wa kulipa bili, kujua akaunti zao za benki na nywila. Je, wanapata malipo ya usalama wa kijamii, malipo ya uzeeni, au malipo ya VA? Ni gharama gani za ukarabati zinazofunikwa na Medicare na bima yao ya afya? - Kuhakikisha kwamba mtu huyo anakula vizuri <unk> Watu wengi waliookoka kiharusi wana uzito kupita kiasi na wana ugonjwa wa kisukari. Chakula kinachofaa chaweza kupunguza uzito na kupunguza sukari katika damu. Sikuzote fanya miadi ya kawaida ya matibabu. - Kuweka ratiba ya kawaida ya shughuli za ukarabati nyumbani. Ulinzi wa mzee ambaye amepatwa na kiharusi ni jambo la kwanza. Hata hivyo, Ndio. Kipaumbele cha kwanza ni wewe. Kutunza wengine kunaweza kusababisha matatizo ya kimwili na ya kiakili. Unapohisi umechoka, umechoka, au umeshindwa, tafuta msaada. Waambie familia na marafiki wako jinsi unavyohisi na uwaombe wakusaidie kwa kuchukua madaraka fulani. Pia, angalia kupata huduma ya muda kutoka Right at Home ili uwe na wakati wa kuchaji na kuwa bora zaidi kusaidia mpendwa wako. Jinsi ya kulipa kwa haki nyumbani inaweza kusaidia: Habari muhimu juu ya jinsi ya kushughulikia masuala ya afya ya kimwili na kiakili ya utunzaji na ushauri muhimu kwa watunzaji wakubwa Pia tunatoa jarida la kila mwezi la e-newsletter lenye vidokezo, habari na ushauri kuhusu kutunza mtu unayempenda anayezeeka. Jisajili ili upate nakala yako! Au, wasiliana na ofisi yako ya Right at Home kwa habari zaidi. Ugonjwa wa kiharusi unawaathiri watu 800,000 kila mwaka nchini Marekani, na 140,000 kati yao hufa na wengine wengi wanakuwa na ulemavu mkubwa. Na kadiri idadi ya watu inavyozeeka, kiwango hicho kitaongezeka <unk> lakini kiharusi si ugonjwa wa uzee tu.