This is about rehabilitation. Its goal is to help the person who has had a stroke achieve the best possible recovery. Its purpose is to help people who have had strokes and their families get the most out of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation works best when stroke survivors and their families work together as a team.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is a type of brain injury. Symptoms depend on the part of the brain that is affected. People who survive a stroke often have weakness on one side of the body or trouble with moving, talking, or thinking.
How Stroke Affects People
Each stroke is different depending on the part of the brain injured, how bad the injury is, and the person’s general health. Some of the effects of stroke are:
-
Weakness – can affect the whole side or just the arm or leg. The weakness is on the side of the body opposite the side of the brain injured by the stroke.
-
Problems with balance or coordination – making it hard for the person to sit, stand, or walk, even if muscles are strong enough.
-
Problems using language (aphasia and disarthria) – trouble understanding speech or writing. Or, the person may understand but may not be able to think of the words to speak or write. Dysarthria means knowing the right words but has trouble saying them clearly.
-
Problems with memory, thinking, attention, or learning – could be just one of these or several. For example, there can be trouble with following directions, confusion when something changes, or inability to keep track of the date or time.
-
Getting tired very quickly – limits participation and performance in a rehabilitation program.
-
Depression – very common in people with stroke and can surface in the beginning or later.
Adjusting to the Change
Going home is a big adjustment. These adjustments are a physical and emotional challenge for the main caregiver as well as the stroke survivor. The caregiver needs support, understanding and rest. Stress is inevitable.
What Now?
Day by day, step by step. Seek out all possible resources depending on needs. Breathe. Stay active, separately and together. Breathe some more. Rehabilitation, physical and mental, takes time and patience. Keep breathing and working on it. Progress is your new goal.
Caregiver Groups at the Littleton office:
Mondays — 1:00-2:30pm
1st and 3rd Tuesdays — 6:30-8:00pm Young Stroke Group
5666 So. Bannock Street, Littleton — 303.730.8800
|
