Taking care of your loved one after a stroke can be a daunting proposition. Even the most well-intentioned caregivers can find themselves at a loss when considering the transition of their loved one from hospital to home.

A stroke, otherwise known as a cerebrovascular accident or CVA, can have a wide range of consequences which are long-lasting. In contrast, a mini-stroke, called a transient ischemic attack or TIA, has the same consequences but lasts less than twenty-four hours. Most people are familiar with the weakness that can afflict an arm, a leg, or an entire side of one’s body due to a stroke. However, strokes can also produce language difficulties, memory deficits, and personality changes. The common theme among stroke survivors is frustration, at being unable to do tasks that they previously took for granted, at being unable to speak what’s on their mind, or at being unable to control the torrent of tears that can occur without warning. Understanding and accepting these limitations are important to success at home. Minimizing potential sources of frustration is crucial, as well. If mobility is impaired, make sure the stroke survivor’s sleeping quarters and bathroom facilities are on the same level of the house. Grab bars may need to be installed in the bathroom. Remove throw rugs. Consider replacing buttons on garments with snaps or other easy-to-use fasteners. If speech is an issue, keep paper and pens handy to facilitate communication, or even flash cards with commonly-used words on them. And if memory or emotional issues are at hand, patience is paramount. Arrange their environment in the most familiar and stable way possible. Keep items located in the same place consistently. Try to understand that in some instances the unpredictable mood swings are due to the stroke itself and are not your fault. Very often, the stroke survivor is just as confused about these moods as you are.

As most stroke survivors return home on some type of blood thinner, it is very important to minimize potential fall risks. Depending on the type of stroke the person had, stroke victims may have difficulty walking or maintaining their balance. Some blood thinners, such as warfarin, must be strictly regulated, so if memory is an issue there should be a mechanism in place, such as a pill tray, to assure that the patient takes neither too much nor too little of this medication. However, warfarin is typically only used for strokes due to atrial fibrillation, or “afib” as it’s called in the medical community. For other types of strokes, different blood thinners are used, which don’t require quite the degree of attention that warfarin does. 

Perhaps most importantly, take every precaution to prevent a second stroke. Blood pressure and cholesterol control are keys in this process. Make sure medications are taken as prescribed, and make sure follow-up appointments with the doctor are kept. Provide healthful, low-salt and low-cholesterol meals. Discourage tobacco use. If your loved one is capable of engaging in physical activity, encourage 30 minutes of such activity daily.

What have been your experiences? 

What have you found to be helpful or important after a stroke has changed your life or your partner’s?