Stroke should never be taken lightly by anyone given the fact that it is the leading cause of death in the US. Having a family member who has experienced a stroke is stressful not only to the stroke patient but also to you and the rest of the family involved. As the caregiver, it is your job to guide your stroke patient back to his or her life and routine but how will you properly guide them if you do not have a guide yourself?
Brighton Cornerstone Healthcare, provider of excellent home health care in East North Street Madisonville KY, shares with you 5 guides every stroke patient caregiver should take note to promote the healthy and eventual recovery of their patient:
- Be aware
Knowing the nature of stoke should not only encompass knowing only the basics of it. As a caregiver, it is your job to know as much information as you can about the illness of your senior. From his or her medications to the recovery or rehabilitation your patient should take, you should be well aware of all of this. In order to do so, you can search them on the internet, or better yet, discuss this with the doctor and therapists (specifically physical therapists).
- Help reduce risk
If a person have had stroke in his or her lifetime, that person is susceptible to have another attack if ever the treatment recommended by doctors, therapists and nutritionists are not followed. Make sure you allow your elderly to take into consideration the following to help reduce his or her risk of acquiring the disease again:
–Follow the doctors prescribed medication
–Observe exercise, even small walks would do
–Eliminate bad habits such as smoking, taking harmful drugs and drinking liquor
–Have a healthy diet
- Know when your patient needs physical therapy
Physical therapists are responsible for restoring movements and balance by guiding their patients through a series of exercises and therapy. You, as the caregiver, should notice the signs that point out to your patient’s need of considering physical therapy. These signs include:
–Dizziness
–Falls that rooted from imbalance
–Difficulty in walking and even moving around
–Lack of the ability to walk for a fraction of 6 minutes
–Inability to enjoy a hobby or recreational activities
–Increase in assistance in taking on their daily activities
- Never ignore falls
Patients who have had stroke are prone to falling down. But if this fall is serious and have resulted to severe pain, bleeding or bruising, you would want to rush to the Emergency Department for the treatment. But if the case follows that your patient has a minor fall, meaning there are no injuries, and that the fall has occurred to them more than two times in six months, you should go and ask the advice of the physician or physical therapist.
- Measure the progress
Stroke survivors have different rates of improvement. It is expected that he or she will gain their function as the week passes, but this can be slower to some. Measuring the progress of your patient is crucial in their recovery.
Being a caregiver is one of the most difficult responsibilities anyone can have. Because Brighton Cornerstone Healthcare cares and understands these difficulties, we share quality and professional home health care in East North Street Madisonville KY. Brighton Cornerstone Healthcare is where stroke survivors can avail quality stroke recovery services with the help of professional physical, occupational and speech therapists in the safety of your home. We also have a number of caregivers who are more than ready to answer your needs and your patient’s.
To inquire more of our home health care in East North Street Madisonville KY you can visit us at brightoncornerstone.com.
