I once met a tall, tan, handsome senior gentleman while visiting friends in Florida. The man had a wonderful personality, a great sense of humor, and he led a very active lifestyle, with fishing being his passion in retirement.
During our conversation, he mentioned he had suffered a sudden stroke when he was in his mid-sixties, and it had taken him some time to recuperate from the adverse effects. If it had not been for a friend who stopped by for a visit, he may not have recovered so well. His friend acted FAST when she noticed the right side of his face drooping, his speech slurred, extreme weakness in his right arm. Thanks to her FAST response, he was rushed to the emergency room where a medical team could intervene. The man received treatment, rehabilitation, and subsequently, he fully recovered from the stroke.
Not everyone is so lucky. In fact, even though the majority of strokes occur in seniors over age 65, stroke victims are getting younger, based on recent reports. Considering one of Home Helpers® specialized services is support for stroke recovery, I thought it was important to review the 7 stages of stroke recovery according to Verywell Health, an award-winning health information resource.
Verywell Health explains, “A stroke is a medical emergency in which blood flow in the brain is either blocked (called an ischemic stroke) or bleeds (called a hemorrhagic stroke). A stroke can affect a person's movement, coordination, cognition, speaking, and more. Recovering from a stroke can be a challenging and emotional process and is different for everyone. The location, extent of the lesion or tissue involvement, time before treatment, and other factors all affect the outlook for recovery.2 However, experts have identified a general pattern of motor recovery from stroke.”
Because everyone is different and severity of the stroke is certainly a consideration, the 7 main stages of stroke recovery are general guidelines, not foregone conclusions.
- Flaccidity – This occurs immediately following the stroke. Muscles are weak, limp and floppy. This may be limited to one side impacted by the stroke, and most often effects the upper limbs.
- Spasticity – Spasticity is when muscles are stiff and rigid. They may involuntarily contract, jerk or tremor, and there is limited to no voluntary movement.
- Increased Spasticity – This may be a frustrating stage, because muscles continue to be rigid, but it is a good sign that the brain is continuing to rebuild neurological connections with muscles.
- Decreased Spasticity – This is an encouraging stage because muscles are becoming less rigid, and jerks are diminishing. Voluntary movements are returning, but there may be more weakness than expected due to the spasticity stages.
- Complex Movement Combinations – In this stage, more complex movement combinations are possible, like grasping a spoon, loading it food, bringing it to the mouth and setting it back down. As voluntary movements and coordination returns, so does a certain level of independence.
- Spasticity Disappears and Coordination Returns – When spasticity disappears, improved coordination reappears, and more complex movement combinations are possible. This doesn’t mean rehabilitation is over, it may need to continue for some time before normal function returns.
- Normal Function Returns – “In the seventh and final stage, normal function returns. You can now perform complex, coordinated, synergistic movement patterns in your affected side just as well as your unaffected side. You are able to return to your meaningful occupations with independence.”
Like I said, depending upon the severity of the stroke and the amount of time it takes to seek medical attention will dictate the time involved in navigating these stages.
As an 8th stage of stroke recovery, Home Helpers® can help seniors and younger individuals who have suffered a stroke with a variety of in-home care services, like support for stroke recovery and recuperative care. Our compassionate, highly trained caregivers will help you or your loved one progress through the stages of stroke recovery, no matter how long it takes.
I am available for a FREE Consultation to discuss ways our professional caregivers provide assistance. This comprehensive assessment of needs will allow me to create the perfect care plan to support stroke recovery efforts through every stage.
Home Helpers® Bourbonnais/Kankakee/Frankfort proudly serves male and female seniors in Beecher, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Dwight, Frankfort, Kankakee, Manteno, Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Tinley Park, Watseka, Wilmington, and surrounding areas. Contact me today to learn more about the many services offered through Home Helpers® - We are Making Life Easier℠ for you and yours! 815.427.4238
Source: