Statistics show that more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke every year.[1] A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked. Sudden bleeding in the brain can also lead to a stroke if it damages brain cells.[2] A stroke can happen at any time and can leave long-lasting effects. When people return home after having a stroke, it is essential that they receive the proper care to aid in their recovery. If your loved one has recently suffered a stroke, getting home health services after a stroke is important. We’re going to take a look at what that includes and why it’s so important.
Stroke Effects
When someone has had a stroke, they may show signs such as mild weakness or paralysis on one side of the face or body. Signs of a stroke can also include trouble seeing, speaking, and understanding speech.
Once someone has had a stroke, the effects can vary greatly and can include[2]:
- Lasting brain damage
- Long-term disability
- Death
- Difficulty talking or swallowing
- Memory loss
- Emotional problems
- Inability to care of yourself
- Pain
Any of these effects can be debilitating and can require someone to need a variety of services to recover the best they can. The type of post-stroke health services a patient receives can dramatically impact their recovery and future quality of life.
Why Home Health After a Stroke is Important
After someone has had a stroke, they are often discharged from the hospital. But this does not mean they return to all of their normal activities. They often need services to help them regain their strength and mobility.
Improves Quality of Life
Studies show that home health care for stroke patients, as well as education for caregivers, not only increased the patient’s quality of life but also decreased the burden on the caregiver.[3] Sometimes, family members try to take on all of the caregiver’s responsibilities. While this may come from the heart, patients may not get the care they need, and caregivers can get quickly burned out. With home health care, both the patient and caregiver benefit.
Allows Patients to be Comfortable
Receiving health care at home allows patients to be as comfortable as possible in their own settings. This can often help patients to recover quicker.
Companionship
If family members are not close by, having home health care can provide patients with companionship. Having a friendly face around, especially for older people, can help prevent depression. This type of companionship can give your loved one someone to talk to and provide the support they need during their recovery.
Provides Safe Environment
At Aleca, part of our home health services includes safety assistance as needed. This can consist of making sure that there are safety tools in place, such as handrails or shower benches, to help patients feel secure in their homes.
What Does Home Health After a Stroke Look Like?
Each patient’s home health services after a stroke are going to look different depending on their condition and the effects they have suffered. Here’s a look at some of the typical services you can expect when receiving home health services from Aleca:
Physical Therapy
Many stroke patients often have trouble with movements, balance, and coordination. Physical therapy at home can help with endurance as well as increasing mobility and strength.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy can help patients regain basic living skills such as getting dressed and eating. At Aleca, our team of occupational therapists works to help patients restore as much of their independence as possible in the home. They will also make recommendations for inside the home that will help patients adapt better to their surroundings.
Speech-Language Therapy
Receiving speech-language therapy can not only help a patient regain their ability to speak but can also help with swallowing food, which can be impacted due to a stroke. This type of care can drastically improve a patient’s quality of life after having a stroke.
Home Health Aides
Some home health services, including those at Aleca, will provide home health aides. These staff members can assist with light housekeeping duties as well as help with performing daily living activities.
Social Workers & Therapists
Many times, social workers are also part of home health services. These care team members can help with some of the non-medical areas that need to be addressed. These services are just as important because they often deal with the emotional and mental health aspects of recovery that are so vital.
Your loved one’s home health care plan after a stroke may include one of these services or a combination of several, depending on their condition and their needs.
Finding Home Health Services Near Me at Aleca Health
The Aleca home health experience helps stroke patients recover in the comfort of their homes by providing many essential services. Patients get the care they need, from physical to occupational therapists and more. Your loved one’s healthcare provider will help determine the services they need to recover, and our team will coordinate to create a care schedule.
Reach out to us today to learn more about how Aleca can help with home health care after a stroke and provide the necessary services to help your loved one recover.
Sources:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
[2] https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/stroke
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6884374/
Dan is Vice President, Marketing of the Alumus family of companies. A Seattle native, he earned his BA in Humanities and Political Science at Evergreen State College. He started his career as a newspaper columnist, eventually transitioning into marketing and tech writing for Microsoft and several other startups. He later launched a successful creative agency focused on branding, digital marketing, and content production in Los Angeles, where he worked for several nursing and behavioral health clients, eventually becoming the National Marketing Director for one of them.
He has taught Vipassana mindfulness meditation and MBSR and spends whatever free time he has with his son snowboarding, hiking, and camping in the mountains.