Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
Caregivers Play a Vital Role in A Stroke Survivor's Recovery - HotantaVoyeur
Stroke can occur when a blood clot blocks or ruptures an artery or blood vessel in the brain. The affected area of the brain is starved of blood and oxygen, thereby causing brain cells to die. Paralysis to one side of the body is one common result of a stroke incident. Speech, mobility and fine motor skills are likewise commonly affected by stroke. A regimen of physical, occupational and speech therapies is the usual prescribed method to help stroke victims regain at least some lost abilities. But what happens at home when the stroke patient is out of the medical "comfort zone"?
A Caregiver's Position in Aiding the Stroke Victim's Recovery
Professional intervention certainly improves the stroke patient's quality of life. Group and individual counseling sessions are offered in addition to the aforementioned therapies. However, these services may not be enough to keep the stroke survivor moving forward once he goes home.
In the home setting, the primary caregiver (and other family members) is in an ideal position to motivate the stroke victim toward his or her maximum potential. What are some of the primary motivating factors caregivers can use to urge stroke patients to recover?
The Caregiver Role in Motivating a Stroke Survivor Toward Recovery
The spouse who willingly attends stroke support group meetings with his or her mate is helping the loved one toward recovery. The same can be said for the caregiver who aids the loved one with exercises and allows him to do as much as possible no matter how frustrating it may be. What are some other motivating factors a caregiver can use to encourage a stroke survivor toward recovery?
Family responsibilities. A stroke victim who was supporting his family prior to falling ill may not need much motivation to recover enough to get back to work. Money is a strong motivator. Still, the caregiver and family members can offer encouragement to the survivor to get back to work and back to as normal a routine as possible.Need for independence. No one likes being dependent on others. The caregiver's most important duty is to push for patient independence. Obviously, the stroke survivor benefits from learning to doing as much on her own as she can.Fear of falling. Pete Levine, BA, PTA and contributing writer for Advance magazine lists fear of falling as a motivator for stroke recovery. It's a well-known fact that falls are especially dangerous for older people who are at greater risk for broken bones, infection and other life-threatening complications from surgeries. A caregiver who encourages mobility – walking (rather than waiting on the patient hand and foot) – is helping to instill patient confidence and alleviate some of the fear.Socialization. A stroke patient who was active socially before the incident may be hesitant about returning to his social life, especially if there are speech and/or mobility issues. A caregiver can help by first inviting a few friends to the home to visit. As the stroke survivor's confidence returns, the focus will shift away from disability issues. Attending church, community events and dining out are just three of many ideal ways to get the stroke survivor back into the swing of things.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in America. Rehabilitation can take months; the length and amount of recovery are different for everyone. The home caregiver is an equally important part of the stroke survivor's rehabilitation team as he or she works in the home setting. She fills in any gaps in the patient's recovery program and addresses the detailed needs and challenges not covered by the professional staff.
By considering the motivating factors mentioned here, and by communicating with the professional rehab workers, the caregiver can develop a plan of action. She can put the stroke incident in perspective – see it as a setback and not the end of an active life – and can understand what's needed to get the best recovery results. She can pass this information on to her loved one and help him to begin moving forward. Most of all, the caregiver can maximize the stroke survivor's goals of recovery.
Sources
Advance magazine (Hard copy): "Lessons Learned from the Super Survivors" (Pete Levine, March 2011, page 42).Self Improvement Site
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