The time after a stroke can be very distressing for both individual’s and their loved ones. A stroke can lead to difficult decisions about what happens next, as daily living tasks such as washing, dressing and meal preparation can become a struggle. This makes living independently difficult and extra support may be required.
Rehabilitation services
A lot of support may be required after a stroke, as there may be a decline in mobility or problems with communication may develop. As a result, additional support may be required, and this can be provided through various rehabilitation services, some of which are mentioned below.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy may be required to help after a stroke. Physiotherapists can be extremely beneficial for individual’s, as they can help them to regain some mobility. This can be done through exercises designed to help to regain strength.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and language therapists may also be of help to individual’s after suffering from a stroke. This is particularly the case if they have suffered from speech or swallowing problems.
The therapists can help an individual by providing them with exercises such as head and neck lifting, and helping you to change your posture to help to maximise ease when swallowing.
Speech can also be aided by helping to find methods of easing communication. For example matching words to pictures and exercises to help improve the strength of mouth muscles.
They can also help with issues controlling your breathing by giving you exercises and help you to concentrate on what you are saying, by encouraging deep breathing between sentences.
Other services
There are many services available to aid stroke recovery and these include: occupational therapists, community or district nurses, psychologists, counsellors, and dieticians. All of these services can be beneficial in aiding stroke recovery as many problems can arise.
For example a dietician may be required to assist with feeding problems, including loss of appetite or trouble swallowing. They help by finding out what the problem is and help them to find ways of overcoming it such as alternative foods. A meal plan may be devised to healthy and balanced diet is being maintained.
How can Home Care help?
Home Care may become beneficial after suffering from a stroke, they may have lost some independence. If the stroke wasn’t severe, they may still be mobile, but lacking in confidence meaning that they no longer feel comfortable doing tasks alone.
Home Care may be beneficial as a care worker can support them with many areas that they may struggle with including: personal care, meal preparation, domestic duties, and medication management. This helps to ensure individual’s feels relaxed and safe at home.
Home Care aids stroke recovery by supporting an individual to regain strength, confidence and some independence. This can be done through supporting an individual to do exercises provided by other services, and ensuring that they are eating properly to ensure that they are getting all of the nutrients they require.