THE CARE GIVERS

THE CAREGIVERS

If you are a caregiver, do take note about this role ahead of time.

Are you prepared to work with the patient on stroke recovery? Talking it over with other people who can share the care giving job with you, will help.

What are the stroke survivor's needs? Who can best help meet each of them?

Who will be the main caregiver? Does caregiving need to be scheduled around the caregivers' jobs or other activities?

Caregivers who help Stroke Survivors (SS) at home are usually family members such as a husband or wife or an adult son or daughter. They may also be friends or even professional home health aides. Usually, one person is the home care main caregiver, while others help from time to time.

An important part of the home care is to make sure that caregivers understand the safety, physical, and emotional needs of the stroke survivor, and that they will be available to provide needed care.

Since every stroke is different, people have different needs for help from caregivers. Here are some of the things caregivers can do:

Keep notes on discharge plans and instructions and ask about anything that is not clear.

Help to make sure that the stroke survivor takes all prescribed medicines and follows suggestions from program staff about diet, exercise, rest, and other health practices.

Encourage and help the SS practices skills learned in rehabilitation.

Help SS solve problems and discover new ways to do things.

Help SS with activities performed before the stroke. These could include using tools, buttoning a shirt, household tasks, and leisure or social activities. Help with personal care, if the SS cannot manage alone.

Help with communication, if the SS has speech problems. Include the SS in conversations even to encourage active participation.

Arrange for needed community services and aid. Stand up for the rights of the Stroke survivor.

ADJUSTING TO THE CHANGE

For the stroke survivor, it may be hard to transfer the skills acquired during rehabilitation. and may find it hard to go back to old activities. During this time, the stroke survivor and family have to make the necessary adjustments.

These adjustments are a physical and emotional challenge, for the main caregiver as well as the stroke survivor.

The caregiver has many new responsibilities and may not have time for favorite activities.

The caregiver needs support, understanding, and time to rest, too. Care giving that falls too heavily on one person can be very stressful. Even though family members and friends are nearby and willing to help, conflicts over care giving can cause stress.

A stroke is always stressful for the family. It is especially hard if one family member is the only caregiver. A lot of time may be required to meet the needs of the stroke survivor. Therefore, the caregiver needs as much support as possible from others, too. Working together eases the stress on everyone.