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ENA Care Group
Suite 2 Wentworth Lodge
Great North Road
Welwyn Garden City
Herts AL8 7SR

Be the person who spots a stroke

Oct 28, 2021

It’s long been known that when a stroke strikes, acting quickly is vital to ensure the damage to the person’s brain is minimised.

This message is being reinforced this World Stroke Day with the #PreciousTime campaign. As the World Stroke Day organisers say:

“When somebody has a stroke, every second that goes by is crucial. As brain tissue and millions of neurons begin to fade away, time could not be more precious. The Precious Time campaign aims to raise awareness about stroke symptoms and the benefits of acting FAST in the aftermath of a stroke. We want to communicate what can be saved: a life, but also independence, quality of life and precious memories.
What happens when a person has a stroke?

A stroke strikes when the blood supply to part of the person’s brain is cut off, causing brain cells to die. As documented on our stroke page, most strokes are caused by blockages (blood clots), but some are caused by blood vessels bursting too. A person can also have what is known as a mini-stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), which is caused by a temporary blockage in the brain.
All strokes are a brain attack and a serious medical emergency, hence why urgent care should be sought at the earliest opportunity.

Responding F.A.S.T to a stroke

In the UK, someone has a stroke every five minutes. Where a stroke strikes in a person’s brain will determine how the person is affected, hence why knowing the different symptoms of a stroke is important.
Being familiar with the F.A.S.T test is the singularly most important way in which you can help a person when they are having a stroke. F.A.S.T stands for:
F – Face: Has the person’s face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
A – Arms: Can they raise both arms and keep them there?
S – Speech: Is their speech slurred?
T – Time: To call 999 if you see any one of these signs.

You may also notice other symptoms, including these listed by the Stroke Association:

• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including legs, hands or feet.
• Difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences.
• Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.
• Sudden memory loss or confusion, and dizziness or a sudden fall.
• A sudden, severe headache.
The earlier a person has treatment, the greater the chance that the effect of their stroke on their brain can be minimised and their chances of recovery enhanced. You may be unsure if what you are witnessing with your family member, friend, neighbour, colleague or a passer-by in the street is a stroke, but if you in any way suspect that it is, call 999.

All ENA live-in carers are trained to recognise the symptoms of a stroke. These medical emergencies don’t often arise in our daily live-in care provision, but when they do we know that acting rapidly is vital.

Post-stroke care

When the time comes for hospital discharge after a stroke, having the right support in place at home can mean the difference between a person returning home in a timely manner or remaining in hospital for longer than necessary.

Our stroke care can be arranged at short-notice, and for a duration that suits the person and/or their family. You may want to have interim care while you assess all of your longer-term post-stroke care options, or you may want to have an ENA live-in care trial to see if live-in care works for you.

Our live-in stroke carers are skilled in supporting a person to regain as much independence as possible post-stroke, and can provide expert support as a stroke survivor navigates their rehabilitation programme.

Having a live-in carer means that a person recovering from a stroke has personalised support that is flexible to respond to their changing needs. Someone who has had a stroke is at significant risk of another stroke, and adhering to a medication regime alongside making lifestyle changes (including healthy eating and regular exercise) are all aspects of a person’s stroke-prevention plan that our live-in carers can support stroke survivors with.

Find out more about how ENA Care Group could support you or your family by calling 0800 4334 413 or emailing care@ena.co.uk.