With May being Stroke Awareness Month, I would implore anyone reading this to take to heart one thing: If you think you or someone close to you – at work, at school, at home – might be suffering a stroke, it’s vital that you get help quickly. The faster a stroke victim gets medical attention, the better the outcome and chance of recovery.
FAST is the key to surviving a stroke – not just fast medical attention, but these four keys signs that a person may be having a stroke:
- Face: Ask the person to smile. Is it uneven, or a droop on one side of the face?
- Arms: Ask the person to raise their arms. Is one arm drifting down?
- Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does their speech slur?
- Time: If you observe any of the above signs, call 9-1-1 immediately
Another thing to keep in mind is that strokes don’t only occur in older adults! In fact, stroke has increased in younger Americans, so don’t allow a person’s age to make you think what’s happening to them isn’t a stroke.
Being informed can make a big difference when it comes to our health and recovery from setbacks, whether it’s a stroke, an accident or a disease. There’s also no single recovery plan that can be applied to every situation.
Family Caregivers play a big role in any recovery. But just as every recovery plan is different, so is every family situation. Sometimes, for example, a family Caregiver may need to return to work to support the family financially. There also needs to be a balance – i.e. every Caregiver needs some time to deal with their own needs.
Your local Home Helpers® Home Care office can meet with you to tailor a plan that meets your family’s needs. You can call 1-800-216-4196 to set up a free consultation. To learn more about how Home Helpers can assist in stroke recovery, click here.
