Senior Stroke Care | May 24, 2018
Do you know the top five signs & symptoms of a stroke? Are you aware that a stroke must be treated quickly as a medical emergency to prevent disability or death?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain becomes severely reduced, sometimes as a result of sudden arterial blockage and sometimes from brain tissue bleeding. The best news for those living in senior care is that strokes are often successfully treated and sometimes even prevented when the proper care is received.
With fewer numbers of Americans dying from strokes due to medical advances, remembering these common stroke symptoms can likely save someone’s life. People attending to adults in senior care must commit to memory of the FAST signs of a stroke.
FAST stands for:
F-Face: Face drooping when you ask the person to smile
A-Arms: Arms cannot be raised simultaneously.
S-Speech: Ask for a simple sentence to be repeated correctly to see if there are speech problems.
T-Time: If there are problems, get immediate medical attention in time to help.
Is There Sudden Weakness, Numbness, or Paralysis? If suddenly, there is numbness, weakness, or paralysis in the face, arms, or legs, maybe just on one side of the body, this is indicative of a stroke. Ask the person in senior care to lift both arms overhead. If both arms don’t rise simultaneously, or one arm drifts down, call for emergency help.
Is There an Inability to Talk or Slurred Speech? When someone in senior care has suddenly become confused, presents slurred speech, and doesn’t seem to understand your words, quickly get help.
Is There Blurred, Blackened or Double Vision? Blurred, blackened, or double vision can be a sign of a stroke. Call for immediate help, whether it is in one eye or it has affected both.
Is There a Dizzy Feeling with Extreme Headache? Make the emergency call for help if there is sudden dizziness with extreme headache, especially if it comes along with altered consciousness.
Is There Difficulty Standing or Walking? Older people in senior care services who suddenly can’t stand up or walk without help need quick medical assistance.
Be FAST in Senior Care. Remember to be FAST in senior care to determine if someone is suffering a stroke, then get help immediately.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help. Comfort Keepers®’ trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home.
Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).
Moreover, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind: empathy. Empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs.
Learn more about our unique service offering by contacting the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office. If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.
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