Top Tips when Caring for a Stroke Patient at Home
A stroke is a very serious form of brain injury which occurs when blood supply is cut off from the brain, and occurs more often in people aged over 65. Strokes require expert medical treatment as soon as possible and delaying treatment could lead to more damaging and long-lasting effects. Therefore, if you or someone you love suffers from a stroke, they are likely going to need various forms of care.
Having a senior relative suffer from a stroke often leaves you with the feeling that you should look after them from home and avoid sending them to a residential care provider for as long as possible. But it is important to remember that caring for a stroke patient at home is both challenging and complex. So, here are our top tips that will help give you some direction.
Have Patience
First of all, it is important that you have as much patience as possible when caring for your loved one. It can be difficult to adjust your relationship with a family member when you also start to become their caregiver. No matter how able they were previous to their stroke, they may struggle to do even the simplest of activities now. It is crucial that you keep this in mind and remember that they can’t do what the once could.
Try to have as much patience as possible and be prepared for their recovery to be extremely slow. In some cases, you may even find that recovery will never happen at all. Don’t forget that kind words can go a long way to someone who is struggling.
Plan Meals Carefully
If the stroke patient that you are looking after is a family member or close friend, then you likely have an idea of all the meals and foods they enjoyed eating before they suffered a stroke. However, having a stroke changes every aspect of your life, including the foods you can eat. So, if you are looking to plan and cook healthy meals to help your stroke patient feel stronger, be sure to plan your meals carefully.
Many stroke patients can have difficulty swallowing after a stroke, which can impact on the foods they can chew and swallow. However, by having an additive like SimplyThick at home, you can change the consistency of the food quickly and without any mess. You can also use thickeners in a drink or pudding to make it easier for those with dysphagia.
Reach Out to Service Providers
Even though you may start to feel isolated and alone if you are the sole caregiver for a stroke patient at home, don’t forget that there are people and organizations out there that can help you. If you aren’t sure about what support is available, contact your local hospital or medical professional as they will be able to give you the details you need. You may even be able to find support via other individuals who are caregivers for stroke patient relatives themselves.
Caring for someone who has suffered from a stroke is no easy challenge, especially if you are doing it from home. Therefore, by reaching out to the support available, you can make a difficult situation easier to cope with.