Unfortunately, there are many senior citizens who have strokes. Sometimes, these can be fatal. However, there are also many people that do survive a stroke. There are health issues that come about after the stroke, though. As a family caregiver, there are some things that you and their in-home care providers may want or need to learn about with strokes in the elderly.

What Happens with Strokes

If your elderly loved one does have a stroke, you may want to know what happened to them. You can speak with your elderly loved one’s doctor to get the specifics on their case. However, in general, when someone has a stroke, the brain cells start to die off. The cause of this is lack of oxygen to the brain due to bleeding in the brain. If your elderly loved one has survived a stroke, they will need regular care and treatment. You may even need to hire in-home care providers.

How to Prevent a Stroke

If you are currently taking care of your elderly loved one, it is important to know there are ways to prevent a stroke, as well. Some tips for stroke prevention in the elderly include:

•  Improving circulation through regular exercise
•  Managing diabetes (if they have this condition)
•  Lowering high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure
•  Eating healthier on a regular basis

If you would like more specific ways to help your elderly loved one prevent a stroke, it would be a good idea to talk to their doctor.

What Are Common Stroke Warning Signs

If you are the primary family caregiver for your elderly loved one, it would be a good idea to know about the common stroke warning signs, too. If they do have a stroke, the sooner they get treatment, the better chances they have at surviving it. Some of the common stroke warning signs include:

•  Face drooping
•  Difficulty speaking
•  Arm weakness
•  Sudden confusion
•  Sudden vision issues
•  Severe headache that comes on suddenly

If you notice any of these signs, make sure to dial 9-1-1 immediately. If your elderly loved one already has an in-home care provider at their house, they know to watch out for these signs, as well.

Knowledge for Family Caregivers and In-Home Care Providers

These are some of the things that you and in-home care providers may need to know about strokes in senior citizens. As a family caregiver knowing about the signs of a stroke could help to save your elderly loved one’s life. If your elderly loved one had a stroke, make sure to work with their doctor to ensure your elderly loved one is following through with a treatment plan.

Sources https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/healthy_living.htm

If you or a loved one are considering In-Home Care Services in North Hills PA, please call and talk to the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Pittsburgh at (412) 693-6009. We will answer all of your questions.

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Stephen Sternbach

CEO at Extended Family Care Services

With over 35 years of experience, Stephen Sternbach has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Extended Family Care Services since 1987. After the sale of the New York and New Jersey operations of Extended Family Care Services, Sternbach brought the company private where he remains President and CEO of this 40-million dollar company. With Sternbach at the helm, Extended Family Care Services employs more than 650 employees, in six offices throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.

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