When your loved one has a stroke, they’re in a hospital or rehabilitation center where many resources are available to help them get through their day. However, most people want to come home, and if you are the caregiver, you will be responsible for the day-to-day care of someone who has experienced a debilitating brain attack.

Depending on the severity of the stroke, your loved one may have partial or full paralysis of one side of their body, a diminished ability to talk, or difficulty with his or her mobility. Of course, this does not even take into account the emotional and psychological effects that a stroke has on a person’s outlook on life. As a stroke survivor’s primary caregiver, it is your job to assist with their physical and emotional needs while taking care of your own, as well.

Dealing with Paralysis and Spasticity.

Paralysis is one of the most common side effects of a stroke. You’ll commonly hear it referred to as hemiparesis, which means that the paralysis exists only on one side of the body. Depending on how bad the stroke was, your loved one may have some ability to use that side of the body or they may have no use of it at all. This will determine how much care your loved one will need in their activities of daily living. Your loved one may also experience spasticity, which is a constant clenching of the muscles that resists stretching. This will also determine how well they are able to get around.

Part of dealing with paralysis and spasticity is engaging in daily exercise.

• – You will need to assist your loved one in daily range of motion exercises with their affected arm and leg. Range of motion exercises means that you gently move the affected limb through the extent that it is capable of moving.

• – It is important to focus on moving the limb carefully and stretching the muscle, but not moving to the point of pain or extending the muscles beyond their limits. Your loved one will not have the same range of motion in their arm that you would have due to their condition.

Try to do range of motion exercises at least three times a day.

For limbs that are paralyzed, it is important to reposition them frequently throughout the day to prevent sores from forming. Since the limb does not have any feeling or the ability to move, your loved one will not be able to respond to any pain stimulus and cannot move the limb on their own to prevent a sore.

It is important to check at least once a day for sores on the paralyzed limbs and on their backside if your loved one is chair or bed bound.

Helping with Mobility

Depending on the extent of your loved one’s stroke, mobility may often be a challenge. It is important to use any assistive devices that your loved one has been taught to use. Wheelchairs, walkers, and quad canes are essential in helping with mobility.

Another important mobility device is the ankle-foot orthosis or AFO. This is a device that fits over your loved one’s foot to keep the foot from dropping whenever they attempt to walk. It is essential that this device is worn inside the shoe to prevent foot drop and help prevent falls. Walkers and canes should be used as instructed by physical therapy staff.

Do not allow your loved one to use furniture or walls as walking aids as this is unsafe and can lead to falls. Falls are a big danger for stroke survivors, and can lead to further immobility and a worsening of their condition.

Around the house, make sure that there are no carpets that are loose or any other floor decorations that your loved one could trip over, such as runners. Go around your house and assure that there is clearance for your loved one’s walker or wheelchair to make it through different areas of the house.

There should be enough room for it to safely clear doorways, hallways, and other passageways between furniture. Wide-open spaces between furniture is better than small areas that would need negotiation. The bathroom is often a site of falls for stroke survivors. If possible, have handle rails installed in the shower and next to the toilet. Purchase an elevated toilet seat so that your loved one does not have to struggle to stand back up after using the commode. Remove any carpets that are on the floor of the bathroom, and purchase a tub seat for the bathtub for easy showering.

Bathroom Issues

• One of the most difficult things for stroke survivors deal with is the lack of control regarding their bathroom habits. Urinary and bowel incontinence is an unfortunate side effect of stroke, but there are some steps you can take to help your loved one deal with this embarrassing side effect.
• One strategy you can employ is to offer your loved one the option of using the bathroom every 2 to 3 hours, whether they need to go or not. Sometimes getting them on the schedule can help prevent accidents and avoid an embarrassing problem.
• Your loved one may want to limit their fluids due to urinary incontinence, but this can lead to dehydration. Encourage them to drink during the day, but limit drinking during the night to avoid incontinence while sleeping.
• Assure that your loved one has privacy and plenty of time to use the toilet when toileting is in progress.
• Constipation is another issue that stroke survivors deal with. Although enemas and laxatives are often used, use some other strategies to help your loved one move their bowels. Assure that they always uses a sitting position when attempting to move their bowels. Laying down does not often result in a bowel movement. Eating a diet high in fiber, moving around during the day, and drinking enough fluids also help with constipation in the stroke survivor.

Stroke survivors often suffer from aphasia or an inability to communicate. One of the ways you can help your loved one is to encourage them to be patient with themselves in trying to express their feelings to you. It may be frustrating for both of you, but the stroke survivor needs to understand that their thoughts and feelings are still valuable and are worth the time it takes to be understood.

Assist your loved one with props, picture books, or any other aides that help them communicate their feelings to you. Also, be sensitive for depression that is quite common in stroke survivors. If your loved one expresses feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, or wanting to die, you need to report this to his or her doctor immediately. These feelings are not normal and they can be treated with medication.

Getting Help

Caring for a loved one who is a stroke survivor is not an easy job. It takes love, patience, and understanding to deal with all the challenges that a stroke survivor resents.

It is important that you take care of yourself to take care of your loved one. If you are frustrated, angry, or irritable, your loved one will pick up on it, and it will affect them.

Getting help does not mean you failed. Getting help only means that you’re human. If you need a nurse or some other support aid to come into your house for a few hours a day, then you need to make the call, not only for you, but for your loved one, as well.

We provide a wide range of services and can assist you with whatever level of care you and your loved one need.