Our carers are trained to support those with complex needs, including people who have experienced a stroke. We understand that people recovering from a stroke need ongoing aftercare and rehabilitation. We bridge the gap between traditional care and nursing to help people with complex needs live safely at home for longer.
Read on to find out about the causes and symptoms of a stroke, and how we can assist people in their recovery.
What is a stroke?
A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. It can be very serious and life threatening.
Strokes affect around 100,000 people every year in the UK, which amounts to one happening every 5 minutes. Whilst there are some factors that increase your chances of having a stroke, such as lifestyle and family history, they can happen to anyone at any time.
What causes a stroke?
A stroke is caused by a blood clot or haemorrhage disrupting the flow of blood to the brain. Like all organs, the brain needs the oxygen and nutrients supplied by blood to function properly. If the brain is starved of blood for even a few minutes then cells begin to die. This can lead to disability, brain injury and even death.
The two main types of stroke are:
- Ischaemic – when the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot. This accounts for 85% of cases.
- Haemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts.
There is also a condition called a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), otherwise known as a mini-stroke. This is where the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted and can last from a few minutes to 24 hours.
Mini-strokes should be treated urgently as they may be a warning sign of a full stroke in the near future.
Certain conditions increase the risk of having a stroke, such as:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- irregular heart beats.
Symptoms of a stroke
The main symptoms of a stroke can be remembered with the mnemonic FAST:
- Face – the face may have dropped on one side or the person may not be able to smile.
- Arms – the person may not be able to lift one or both arms, because of a weakness or numbness in them.
- Speech – the person’s speech may be slurred or they might be unable to talk at all. They may also have problems understanding what you’re saying to them.
- Time – it’s time to dial 999 immediately.
How we can help
Stroke survivors are often left with long-term problems, with some people needing longer rehabilitation periods than others. Alongside reablement, some people really benefit from a home care service – especially as recuperation within a familiar environment can improve overall recovery.
Our thoroughly trained carers can support people recovering from a stroke, or those who have developed more complex care needs after a stroke. They can help with:
- Mobility support
- Administering medications
- Support cooking and eating meals
- Aashing and getting dressed
- Grooming and shaving
- Light housework
- Providing companionship and emotional support
- Continence and personal care
- Communicating with other healthcare professionals
At Choice Care we understand that recovery is different for each person. That’s why we tailor our services to the individual needs of you or your loved one. This could be in the form of long term complex care or reablement care as they improve.
Regardless of the service, the goal is always to provide the highest quality of care for you or your loved ones. To help ease any emotional and physical stress and support them in how you, or they, wish to live.
If you or a loved one is interested in complex care in Blackburn then please contact us on 01254 504905 or visit Choice Care to find out more.