Suffering from a stroke can be an overwhelming and frightening experience. Strokes can happen out of nowhere and leave a person unable to move, talk, or function as normal. However, the effects don’t just occur in the moments when the stroke happens, they can result in serious, long-term impacts. Most people who suffer from a stroke will require rehabilitation.

After a loved one has a stroke, you have many important decisions ahead of you as a caregiver. One of the most important decisions is where your loved one will receive rehabilitation and begin the recovery process. To help you through this process, below we discuss how a stroke can affect your loved one’s abilities, how to choose the right setting for recovery, when assisted living might be best, and how to find the right facility for your loved one.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is a type of brain injury. There are two main types: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

• Ischemic strokes occur when blood vessels become blocked by a clot or are too narrow for blood to get through. Due to the reduced blood flow, brain cells in the area die from lack of oxygen. This is the most common form of stroke.
• Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel bursts and blood leaks into the brain, causing damage.

There is also a related condition called transient ischemic attack (TIA). This has the same symptoms as a stroke, but only lasts for a few hours or a day and does not cause permanent brain damage. A TIA is not a stroke, but it is an important warning signal. Someone who’s had a TIA needs treatment to help prevent an actual stroke in the future.

Impact of a Stroke

Each stroke is different depending on the part of the brain injured, the extent of the injury, and the person’s general health. We’ll list some of the effects here, but it’s important to ask your healthcare team exactly what you should expect for your loved one specifically.

• Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body – This may affect the whole side or just the arm or the leg. The weakness or paralysis is on the side of the body opposite the side of the brain injured by the stroke. For example, if the stroke injured the left side of the brain, the weakness or paralysis will be on the right side of the body.
• Balance or coordination problems – These issues can make it hard for the person to sit, stand, or walk, even if muscles are strong enough.
• Problems using language (aphasia and dysarthria) – A person with aphasia may have trouble understanding speech or writing. Or, the person may understand but may not be able to think of the words to speak or write. A person with dysarthria knows the right words but has trouble saying them clearly.
• Being unaware of or ignoring things on one side of the body (bodily neglect or inattention) – Often, the person will not turn to look toward the weaker side or even eat food from the half of the plate on that side.
• Pain, numbness, or odd sensations – These symptoms can make it hard for the person to relax and feel comfortable.
• Memory, thinking, attention, or learning problems (cognitive problems) – A person may have trouble with many mental activities or just a few. For example, they may have trouble following directions, get confused if something in a room is moved, or be unable to track the date or time.
• Being unaware of the effects of the stroke – The person may show poor judgment by trying to do unsafe things as a result of the stroke.
• Trouble swallowing (dysphagia) – This can make it hard for the person to get enough food. Also, caregivers must prevent the person from breathing in food (aspiration) while trying to swallow it.
• Problems with bowel or bladder control – Individuals may need to use portable urinals, bedpans, and other toileting devices.
• Getting tired very quickly – This may limit the person’s participation and performance in a rehabilitation program.
• Sudden bursts of emotion, such as laughing, crying, or anger – These emotions may indicate that the person needs help, understanding, and support in adjusting to the effects of the stroke.
• Depression – This is common in people who have had strokes. It can begin soon after the stroke or many weeks later, and family members often notice it first.

For suggestions on what to do if your loved one has a stroke and how to live with a stroke, continue reading this very informative article. Please click on this link:

Assisted Living for Stroke Patients

See also:

Helpful National and State Websites