How To Support Stroke Recovery?
With the high incidence of stroke in Singapore, it is natural for you to worry if your loved ones or friends are at risk of getting a stroke. The most pressing question on everyone’s mind is, “Is it possible to recover from a stroke?” While it is possible, each stroke patient’s journey is unique and the extent of recovery will also vary.
Strokes can happen without warning and can be life-threatening. If someone you know experiences symptoms such as face-drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Early intervention can greatly improve the patient’s chances of recovery.
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The extent of recovery also depends on various factors including the severity of the stroke, the patient’s age, overall health and support available. While some stroke survivors make remarkable progress and regain a considerable degree of independence, they may not fully return to the level of functioning before stroke. Others experience lasting impairments despite rehabilitation efforts.
Recovering from a stroke is a gradual process that requires ongoing effort and patience. Although the brain adapts and rewires itself to compensate for damaged areas, this takes time. To ensure the best possible outcome, stroke survivors should work closely with healthcare professionals to create a personalised recovery plan and maintain realistic expectations about their progress.
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Challenges of Life After Stroke
Surviving a stroke can be a challenging experience as these patients face many physical and cognitive hurdles. These include weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, loss of balance and coordination, mobility issues, difficulty speaking and understanding language and memory problems. Furthermore, they may experience changes in personality or difficulty with problem-solving.
How can you support your loved ones after they are discharged from the hospital? You can ensure things are set up at home so that it is easier to help them back into everyday life. This could include modifying the home environment to help your loved ones perform daily activities with less effort and more independently. They may need assistive devices such as a walker or wheelchair to move around.
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Rehabilitation is a crucial part of a stroke survivor’s journey to recovery. Physical, occupational, speech and cognitive therapy from specialist centres such as St Luke’s Hospital’s Stroke Rehabilitation and Neurological Rehabilitation Clinics can help your loved ones regain strength and mobility and become more independent as well as enjoy a better quality of life post-stroke.
One of the most important things you can do to aid in your loved ones’ recovery is to encourage them to maintain a positive outlook. Even if a full recovery is not possible, rehabilitation and lifestyle changes can help them adapt to their limitations and return to normal living.
Providing Emotional Support
As a caregiver for a stroke patient, you will also be journeying with your loved ones in their emotional recovery. While stroke survivors come to terms with the drastic changes in their lives, it is common for them to withdraw from others and feel frustrated and angry. In addition, they may also experience unpredictable mood swings.
It’s important to be patient and understanding when providing support to your loved ones post-stroke. Keep in mind that these emotions are a normal part of the healing process. Don’t expect them to appear happy or act as if everything is normal. Just being there and lending a sympathetic ear can make a big difference. Consider taking your loved ones to a stroke support group to connect with other survivors and share their experiences.
Stroke survivors often feel isolated because they are not as mobile compared to before their stroke and they may suffer from post-stroke depression. It’s crucial to help them maintain their connection to their community. During such difficult times, the presence of close friends and family can provide much-needed reassurance.
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Once your loved ones feel better and regains their strength, find ways to keep them engaged with their social circles, community activities and hobbies as this can significantly enhance their quality of life.
Stroke survivors will face numerous obstacles but they can make significant strides in recovery and enjoy a fulfilling life with the right approach. In addition, you can encourage them to adopt lifestyle habits such as eating healthily and getting more physical activity to lower the risk of future strokes.
Reference: https://www.nrdo.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider3/default-document-library/ssr-web-report-2020c544bb698cf04ad1aaaa7a1472296132.pdf?sfvrsn=33b4f18a_0
