Strokes are more common than most people realize, and these cardiac events can bring individuals’ lives to a grinding halt. According to the CDC, nearly 800,000 Americans have strokes every year, and strokes are the leading cause of long-term disability. Those are just a few of the reasons older adults and their families should spend a little time researching exactly how these cardiovascular attacks impact the brain and some steps that can be taken to minimize brain damage.
Understanding the Basics of a Stroke
Around 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic strokes, and those cardiac events occur when there’s some type of blockage in the cardiovascular system. Either a deposit of fat or a blood clot will cut off the brain’s blood supply, which can lead to a wide variety of serious health issues. Hemorrhagic strokes are somewhat common as well, but those events are the result of burst blood vessels. While strokes often result in physical complications, many stroke survivors experience serious cognitive problems as well.
Managing the Symptoms
Every stroke is slightly different, and seniors can experience several different symptoms. Immediately following a stroke, the average person is going to have a difficult time with most cognitive skills, including memory recall, emotional control, hand-eye coordination, speech, and spatial awareness. Some of those issues should fade away over time as long as the senior sticks to a comprehensive treatment plan, but strokes can produce long-term symptoms as well.
Stroke survivors who recover at home often need help with the everyday tasks of life. Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to an assisted living facility. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading Roseville at-home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.
Identifying the Warning Signs
As soon as the brain no longer has a consistent supply of blood, the cells will begin to die off. While some damage is inevitable, stroke survivors and their loved ones can do quite a bit to mitigate long-term complications. Catching one of these events right away can have a major impact on recovery, which is why everyone should familiarize themselves with some of the most common early warning signs. During the initial stages, seniors might experience issues with their eyesight or balance. Many seniors also become confused or delirious, and those individuals must be taken to a hospital right away.
The effects of a stroke can make it difficult for seniors to live at home safely without a caregiver close by at all times. Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Live in or 24 hour home care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Home Care Assistance to enhance his or her quality of life.
Preventing Long-Term Brain Damage
If the person having a stroke makes it to the hospital within a short time, the medical team might be able to dissolve the clot with oral medication. Some doctors also administer medications directly to the brain through catheters. Those drugs increase blood flow by breaking apart deposits of fatty tissue. Once the senior is stable, he or she will be given a long-term recovery plan. The average recovery plan includes many different treatments and services that boost physical and mental health. Cognitive therapy is useful, and studies have revealed that physical exercise can boost brain health after a stroke as well.
A senior stroke survivor often needs very specialized care from someone with experience in providing support during stroke recovery. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional elderly home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place. If you need professional stroke care for your loved one, Home Care Assistance is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737.