A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves though the body) ruptures, causing an interruption of the blood supply to an area of the brain. When either of these things happens, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost. The term “brain attack” is increasingly being used to describe stroke and communicate the urgency of recognizing stroke signs and symptoms and treating their onset as a medical emergency, similar to what would be done with a myocardial infarction (heart attack). The effects of stroke can range from mild to severe, reversible to permanent. A person who has had a stroke may experience: paralysis; communication disorders; vision, memory and judgment problems; and behavior changes and depression. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have residual dysfunction.
If you are the primary caregiver for a stroke victim, you are an important member of the rehabilitation team. It’s vital to learn techniques to enhance safety and communication. But keep in mind how critical it is to foster the patient’s sense of self-esteem. Always treat the patient as an adult, not as a child. Speak slowly and distinctly, and ask questions that can be answered by yes or no while providing a calm environment with minimal distraction. Maintain eye contact during conversation, and use gestures to match simple verbal messages. Use touch to increase attention. Try to anticipate his or her needs, and provide call signal within reach of the unaffected hand. Position the bed so guests and therapists can approach and give care from the unaffected side, and place personal items and reading materials on the unaffected side. Keep side rails up on affected side to ensure that the patient’s weak body parts are
safely positioned. Safety measures to prevent falls are essential; the patient will need mobility aids (wheelchair, walker, or cane). Assist in doing range-of-motion exercises as prescribed by therapists.
Your goal is to help the patient accomplish activities of daily living and regain as much independence as possible. During meals, position the patient with his or her head elevated and turned to unaffected side. Provide foods that are easier to swallow (soft or pureed foods). Use training cup or feeding syringe as necessary, and inspect the patient’s mouth for food trapped in cheek pockets. Encourage self-feeding; provide self-help devices as needed. Praise and reinforce successful efforts and gains in self-care. To reduce tension, give the patients an occasional massage. Play his or her favorite songs, and visit places that are dear to him or her. Daily walks are therapeutic.
With therapy, significant functional gains can be made, even when paralysis or weakness continues. Caring for a stroke patient poses a high risk for caregiver stress. Establish opportunities for respite. You need to care for yourself as well. Look into joining a stroke support group in your community. Contact the National Stroke Association; it offers educational programs and resources to help people navigate the challenging post-stroke recovery journey of a loved one. With a caregiver’s love and support, there’s hope that a stroke survivor can become independent again.
