Unfortunately, many older adults have suffered a stroke before. Strokes can range in severity. But, no matter how severe the stroke may be, it will certainly change a person’s way of living. In many cases, the person suffers from a loss of various abilities. Perhaps the memory is affected or the person is unable to use certain muscles. So, people who have suffered a stroke often need a little extra care and help. If so, it’s important for families to know how to help their older loved ones who have been impacted by a stroke. Sometimes, however, the family members may not be able to meet all the needs of the older adult in their lives. But, with the help of in-home care services, seniors who have experienced the effects of a stroke can get the help that they need.
Information About Strokes
A stroke happens when the blood vessels that are carrying oxygen burst. The blood vessels may also become blocked. If either of these situations occurs, the oxygen supply is cut off to the brain. This results in causing some brain cells to suffer irreparable damage. There are four different types of stroke, including hemorrhagic, transient ischemic attack and ischemic. Each category has different characteristics. But, the most common stroke that people suffer from is an ischemic stroke. This means that there were blood clots which blocked the flow of oxygen.
Transient ischemic attacks are also known as mini strokes. These kinds of attacks do not usually cause permanent brain cell damage. But, they can certainly lead to major strokes, which do cause lasting damage. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel bursts or ruptures. This leads to bleeding in the brain, which places pressure on the brain’s cells. This, in turn, injures those cells. Now that we’ve talked a bit about what a stroke is, let’s discuss how a stroke can change the life of your older loved one.
The Effects of a Stroke on Seniors
When a person has suffered a stroke, he or she will experience a lot of changes in the body. Strokes can affect various areas of an individual’s life. Here are some of the issues that a stroke can cause:
- Slurred speech (and other speech problems, like aphasia)
- Depression
- Paralysis
- Dysphasia (problems with swallowing)
- Issues with vision
- Memory problems
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue and weakness in the muscles
- Seizures
- Bodily pains
The effects will vary depending on the severity of the stroke itself. The person who has suffered a stroke may encounter some or most of these difficulties. In any case, there will be many changes in the individual’s life.
Caring For Someone Who Has Suffered a Stroke
Strokes can affect the way a person moves around. This can limit the number of things the person can physically do. Perhaps, cooking, bathing and dressing will be difficult to do without help. Some of the effects of the stroke are temporary, such as the effects of a mini-stroke. But, the person who has suffered a stroke will most likely need some sort of help, even if only for a while. If you have a loved one who is going through changes due to a stroke, you may be in need of some help. It’s not always easy to meet the needs of a person in this situation. Your loved one may need medical help, physical help and even companionship at this time.
Florida First Senior Home Care is a referral service that helps provide families, like yours, with amazing caregivers. We know that you love and care about the older adults in your life. That’s why we work to get them the best possible care. If you think your family can benefit from our services, just contact us today and schedule a free consultation.
