After-stroke care at home
For most people, having a stroke is obviously something they have never expected and therefore aren’t prepared for. As a result, it can plunge individuals and families into a world they know little about, with immense fear about how the person might recover and what their life will be like after a stroke.
At ENA Care Group, we’re here to support stroke survivors with the information, advice and care required once their inpatient hospital treatment is over. We know that the road to recuperation and recovery is a long and difficult one for many people, and the aim of our live-in stroke care service is to make rehabilitation the very best it can be.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a sudden attack on the brain, cutting the blood supply to a certain part and killing the cells in that area. Given the rapid nature of how a stroke develops, acting fast at the first sign of a stroke is essential to minimising the damage caused.
For stroke survivors, the physical effects of having a stroke can include problems with communication, arm, hand and leg weakness, problems with balance and swallowing, breathing and eyesight issues, muscle and joint pain, bowel and bladder control problems, numb skin, pins and needles and fatigue. The mental health effects can include emotional changes, often depression, and cognitively, vascular dementia can develop as a result of a single stroke or a series of mini-strokes (known as TIAs — Transient Ischemic Attacks).
Treatment for a stroke focuses on medication and hospital care, with stroke survivors undertaking rehabilitation in the days, weeks, months and even years after a stroke.
What is the impact of having a stroke?
- Communicating — reading, writing, understanding and speaking
- Coordination and balance — difficulty walking caused by paralysis on one side of the body
- Cognitive ability — disrupted concentration, memory, communication, spatial awareness and difficulty carrying out daily activities like getting dressed or making a cup of coffee. Vascular dementia can also develop as a result of a stroke
- Bladder and bowel control
- Sleeping patterns — as a result of insomnia or Parkinson’s fatigue
- Psychological behaviour — such as feelings of fear, anger or worthlessness, and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety
- Vision — reduced vision (as a result of the loss of vision in one eye) or double vision
- Driving ability — after having a stroke, you can’t drive for at least one month, but there can also be long-term issues such as problems with vision and concentration, which can make it difficult to drive safely
How long does it take to recover from a stroke?
There is no straightforward answer to the question of how long it takes to recover from a stroke, because the stroke itself and the recovery rate are different for everyone. It can take weeks, months or years. How long it takes to recover will depend on a number of factors: the speed of the treatment, the age of the survivor, the severity of the stroke, the size and location of the stroke, and the person’s general health before the stroke.
In general, there will be noticeable improvements in the first three months because the brain is in a state of heightened plasticity. During this period, some recovery will be through rehabilitation and some will be spontaneous.
After three months, the person will usually go home to continue recovering, while still using outpatient therapy. After-stroke care at home can help the stroke survivor to speed up their recovery in familiar surroundings. If the person has lost the ability to walk, this often returns, with the help of regular rehabilitation, around six months after the stroke. After two years, some people may be fully recovered, while others continue with rehabilitation.
Stroke statistics
Reasons to consider after-stroke care at home
Most people would prefer to rehabilitate from a stroke in the comfort of their own home. Some of the reasons our clients have chosen our live-in stroke care include
The person and/or their family are struggling to manage at home post-stroke. The person and/or their family may want a long-term live-in care service, or they may prefer to try our respite care service first.
The person is ready to be discharged from hospital and needs an appropriate care package in place to return home.
The person has experienced a more severe stroke, potentially leaving them with complex care needs, but doesn’t want to move into a care home.
The person wants to remain living with their spouse, partner, and/or pets, alongside receiving the care and support they need.
The person lives alone and cannot manage post-stroke without support.
The person is living with multiple long-term conditions (perhaps dementia) alongside being a stroke survivor, and they require a holistic package of support.
The person wants flexible support that can be scaled back as their rehabilitation progresses, with the aim of returning to a life unsupported.
Key elements of ENA live-in stroke care
We support people after all kinds of strokes, from mini strokes (TIAs) to more severe strokes, providing the right kind of carer with specialist stroke training. Our stroke support focuses on the needs of each individual stroke survivor, enabling them to regain as much functionality as possible.
We know that a stroke can strip a huge amount from a person, and so our aim is to rebuild their physical and mental health through our compassionate, dignified, respectful, professional approach which focuses on independence. All of our live-in carers know the value and importance a client holds in being able to make their own choices and have control over their life, especially at a time when they may feel this has been taken away.
Our live-in carers help stroke survivors to communicate better, by interpreting speech, body language and movements to get their message across. We also provide the side-by-side support needed to help the person undertake day-to-day tasks again, taking as big or as little a role as required and helping the person to avoid feelings of frustration.
We pride ourselves in supporting the person’s family too, as they come to terms with the reality of their relative’s rehabilitation. We can answer questions and help families to enjoy quality time together, offering advice and support that ensures everyone can contribute to the survivor’s rehabilitation in the most appropriate way.
The benefits of ENA after-stroke care at home
Being able to return home
Most stroke survivors don’t want to remain in hospital and are desperate to return home. Having a skilled live-in carer means their care can continue uninterrupted, enabling the person to recuperate, relearn skills and adapt to their life post-stroke.
Safety and support
Many stroke survivors can feel daunted by returning home, wondering how they will cope alone, particularly as the risk of having another stroke in the 30 days following the first is high. Having a live-in carer to help with everything, from providing an arm to hold when moving around, to ensuring the person can enjoy their favourite meals and have support at night should they need to get out of bed, can make a world of difference to the person’s confidence levels and, in turn, how quickly they make progress with their rehabilitation. And, should the person experience any new stroke symptoms, their live-in carer can of course get medical help quickly.
Motivation with a rehabilitation routine
Rehabilitation from a stroke can be arduous and it’s common for many people to feel like giving up. Our live-in carers are experts in supporting the person to maintain their rehabilitation and meet their goals, through appropriate encouragement and support that the person responds best to.
Emotional support
The physical effects of a stroke are often well-documented and treated, while the mental health and emotional aspects are less widely considered. Our live-in carers are there to support the fluctuating emotions caused by stroke rehabilitation, frustrations and setbacks, as well as celebrate achievements. Having a compassionate, understanding live-in carer to talk to when a stroke survivor is experiencing low mood, anxiety or anger can make a big difference to the person’s mental health.
Companionship to ease isolation
Having a stroke can be a very isolating experience, with some survivors feeling they are locked in a body that has suddenly stopped working properly. The companionship of a live-in carer post-stroke can bring friendship back into their life, particularly if they live alone, alleviating isolation and providing essential human interaction – improving the person’s wellbeing and helping them to lead a fulfilled and meaningful life.
Support to manage fatigue
Many stroke survivors report experiencing significant fatigue as they rehabilitate. Having a live-in carer allows the client to manage their home and day-to-day life more easily, building in periods of rest if required and also activity to rebuild their stamina.
Care that preserves family life
Some stroke survivors aren’t comfortable with their spouse or partner becoming their full-time carer. Having a live-in carer allows husbands, wives, partners and other family members to continue in their traditional roles, while the care the person needs is provided by our staff, or indeed, shared if preferred.
Preventative support
Following a stroke, a survivor may be given advice on lifestyle modifications that can help to improve their overall health and cut their risk of future strokes. Our carers can aid these goals, whether that be by preparing healthier meals to lower a person’s cholesterol, or by encouraging them to lose weight or manage their diabetes better, through to giving up smoking and taking more exercise, perhaps by following a post-stroke exercise regime.
Contact us to discuss your stroke care needs
We are always available to help you understand stroke care better, and discuss the best home care and support options for you and your family. You can call us on 01707 333 700 or email