senior lifestyle
Life After a Stroke
5 Tips for Recovery and Daily Living
Family Features
I n the weeks and months immedi-
ately following a stroke, an early
rehabilitation program offers the best
possible recovery outcomes. While
each person’s stroke recovery journey
is unique, starting the path toward
rehabilitation as soon as it’s medically
safe allows stroke survivors to mitigate
the lasting effects.

According to the American Stroke
Association, a division of the American
Heart Association, each year, approxi-
mately 800,000 people in the United
States have a stroke. Strokes can
happen to anyone, at any age. In fact,
globally about 1 in 4 adults over the
age of 25 will have a stroke in their
lifetime. Early Intervention
The rehabilitation and support a survivor
receives can greatly influence health
outcomes and recovery. The first three
months after a stroke are especially
critical. Although recovery may continue
for years after a stroke, this time in the
immediate aftermath of a stroke is when
the brain is most able to adjust to the
damage done by the stroke so the sur-
vivor can learn new ways to do things.

Following a stroke, a survivor may
experience physical changes, such as
fatigue, seizures, weakness or paralysis
on one side of the body or spasticity, stiff
or rigid muscles which may cause diffi-
culty with completing daily activities and
tasks. If experiencing fatigue, speak with
your health care provider about ways to
reduce it. Your care team may also be
able to provide medications to help with
seizures and spastic-
ity. Physical therapy is
also an option.

Challenges after
a stroke depend on the severity and
location of the stroke. In addition to
various physical disabilities, stroke survi-
vors may experience aphasia, commu-
nication and thought problems related
to speaking, listening, understanding or
memory. Planning, organizing ideas or
making decisions can also be harder.

“Remember to be patient when
communicating with a stroke survivor,”
said Elissa Charbonneau, M.S., D.O., chief
medical officer of Encompass Health and
an American Stroke Association national
volunteer. “The impact of a stroke on
cognitive, speech and language can be
significant and isolating. When connect-
ing with a stroke survivor, some helpful
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practices include demonstrating tasks,
breaking actions into smaller steps,
enunciating, asking multiple choice
questions and repetition.”
Customized Rehabilitation
Once a stroke survivor’s medical condi-
tion is stabilized and he or she is ready to
leave the hospital, rehabilitation can help
restore function and teach new ways to
complete everyday tasks. Rehabilitation
may take place in an inpatient facility,
skilled nursing facility or long-term acute
care facility. Outpatient clinics and home
health agencies can also provide reha-
bilitative care in certain circumstances.

One patient’s rehab journey might
include therapy to improve balance,
strength or mobility while another might
need speech or other therapies. A
rehabilitation designed for the individual
is critical.

Preventing a Recurrence
After a first stroke, nearly 1 in 4 survivors
will have another. Stroke survivors can
help reduce their risk of having another
stroke by working with their health care
team to identify what caused the stroke
and uncover personal risk factors.

Taking steps such as healthy eating,
reducing sedentary time and taking
medications as prescribed can help your
brain and reduce your risk of a repeat
stroke. Controlling conditions such as
high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep
apnea also reduce your risk of having
another stroke.

Support During Your Journey
Caregivers and other loved ones can
provide important long-term support
during your recovery and rehabilitation.

Find resources for stroke rehab and
recovery including the “Life After Stroke”
guide, “Simply Good” cookbook and a
support network to connect with other
survivors at Stroke.org/Recovery. ■