Stroke Part 2: Bringing Your Loved One Home.

Your loved one had a stroke, and now you will be helping take care of them at home. It sounds overwhelming, almost impossible at first. Yet, the more prepared you are, the more comfortable you will feel in being able to take care of your loved one. Here are some steps you can take to prepare for your loved ones arrival home after having a stroke.

1) Collaborate with the medical team: Doctors, nurses, therapist, and case managers all take part of the medical team and provide invaluable insight of how to help take care of your loved one. Take notes, and take the opportunity to ask all of your questions while you are in the hospital.

2) Medical supplies: Talk to your discharge planner, or case manager to arrange medical equipment to be transported to your home.

•      Hospital bed

•      Wheelchair

•      Commode

•       Lift

    Other supplies to consider:

•      White board: Here you can write down when to give medications, feed, toilet, turn, and exercise your loved one. In addition, keep appointment reminders. 

•      Mirror: Good to have a large one, so that your loved one can watch themselves do their exercises.

•      Large clock: I really like the American Lifetime digital day clock. 

•      Calendar

•      Gait belt 

•      Sliding board

•      Walker

3) Rearrange the room: Make sure there are only the essentials in the room. Rearrange the bed so that your loved one can role on their weak side, push up, and exit the bed on their weak side. If you will be using a wheelchair or lift, ensure a 5ft clear floor space is allotted to ensure enough room to maneuver.

4) Transferring: Learn how to properly transfer your loved one. For that you will need a gait belt, sliding board, and/or lift.

·     http://www.healthsciences.uci.edu/nursing/docs/stoke-conference/stroke-rehabilitation.pdf

5) Create a schedule:Make a list of people/caregivers who can come support your loved one at home. Then, create a schedule of who can come what shift (Morning shift 8-4, Evening 4-12, and Night 12-8). The schedule will help ensure that relief is provided for all involved in you loved one's care.

6) Exercise regimen:During the day, help your loved one start exercising. The more frequent and sooner your loved one starts exercising, the better. You can do these exercises every hour for 10 minutes as tolerated.

•      Exercises to do in bed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VqSrFGyOF0

•      Exercises of upper arm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GbpbuwcWDk

•      Exercises of lower arm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM0P-iLSlbs

•      Have people stand on your loved ones weak side as much as possible.

•      Other: Have them practice squeezing their hands, raising their hands and feet. You can also massage the weak side to stimulate the senses. 

7) Nutrition:Your loved one might still have trouble swallowing after their stroke. If they cannot swallow well they might need a feeding tube, either through the nose (NG) or the stomach (PEG), or you might need to thicken their drinks with starch and/or puree their food. A speech therapist is the one who will evaluate and recommend diet consistency.

·     Keep your loved one at least at 30 degrees or higher for 30-60 minutes after their feedings to prevent food from going into their lungs. 

8) Preventing skin breakdown: It’s important to turn your loved one every 2 hours to avoid pressure ulcers or red wounds to form on your loved ones bottom from lack of movement.  Use a white board in the room to keep track of when your loved one was last turned.

9) Self-care: Remember to take time to care for yourself as well. Take time to relax, and do things that you loved to do before the incident.

•      Optional: Video tape your loved one's progress for motivation

What has helped your family transition your loved one home?

Photo source: homecareassistance-se-melbourne.com.au

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