I saw a post come across my Facebook newsfeed that took me by surprise. One of my friends had posted over Mother’s Day weekend asking for prayers of healing for her Mother-in-Law, Joan. Now, Joan is my aunt’s best friend, and I’ve known her and her family my entire life. Joan’s daughters were my babysitters when I was young!
I called my aunt, and she told me Joan had taken a nasty fall two weeks ago, and she was pretty bruised-up. There was a problem with her right leg, though, and her speech seemed different. Joan’s family notified her doctor and an MRI was ordered ASAP. Apparently, the radiologist and medical team discovered 87 year-old Joan had suffered a light stroke, which may have contributed to her fall.
Joan is a retired Registered Nurse who has always taken excellent care of herself and maintained a relatively active social life, pre- and post-retirement. The fact this strong senior woman suffered a light stroke was certainly surprising, but it served as an important reminder that stroke can happen to anyone at anytime.
According to the National Stroke Association (NSF), for every minute a stroke sufferer’s brain does not receive proper blood flow, two million neurons are negatively affected. The more neurons that are lost determines the overall impact on speech, movement, memory, and life.
Strokes are most common among seniors, but like I said, anyone at almost any age can suffer a stroke. If you ever find yourself in the presence of someone you think is having a stroke, a simple test recommended by the NSF, commonly known as Act FAST, can help you recognize the signs of a stroke:
Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side appear droopy or unresponsive?
Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one tend to angle downward?
Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately!
Please remember this Act FAST test if someone appears to be having a stroke. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of FAST action when stroke is suspected.
I’m very grateful that Joan is expected to make a full recovery, but she’s not out of the woods. Rather than living alone as she was, Joan will now be staying with her youngest daughter, with some assistance from her oldest daughter and two sons, so they can support her in her recovery, and they can monitor her behaviors, should stroke strike again.
If stroke has impacted your life or that of someone you know, Home Helpers® compassionate caregivers provide seniors with specialized care, including support for stroke recovery, recuperative care, 24-hour in-home care, respite care, wellness calls, 24/7 monitoring services, and more.
I am happy to offer a FREE Consultation to assess specific needs and develop a comprehensive care plan to help stroke survivors stay independent in their home for as long as possible, and have a healthier quality of life.
We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice Award for the fifth consecutive year: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021. We proudly serve male and female seniors in Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Trinity, Port Richey, Hudson and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier℠ 727.942.2539
Source:
National Stroke Association
