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Family Role in Stroke Recovery

A stroke is a loss of brain functions due to blood not being able to flow to the brain. When a stroke occurs, damage to a person's movement, behavior, thoughts and feelings occur. A stroke can lead to paralysis, problems with speech and language, memory problems, trouble with thinking or problem solving, as well as problems getting around and caring for one's self. It is for these reasons that the family of a stroke victim plays an important role in their recovery.

  1. Importance of Rehabilitation

    • Rehabilitation aids in building the patient's strength, coordination, endurance, and confidence. Stroke rehabilitation teaches the patient a number of things that they may have been able to do alone before the stroke occurred such as how to move, talk, think, and eat. Stroke rehabilitation aims at helping patients learn how to the normal, everyday things that they were able to do alone before the stroke occurred.

    Encouragement and Support

    • A person who suffers from a stroke needs encouragement and support from the family. This can be done by visiting the patient in the hospital or rehabilitation center which can boost the morale or a stroke victim. If the person who has suffered a stroke has trouble talking, get in touch with the speech therapist and ask questions as to how you can help. Additionally, support and encouragement can also be done by spending time with the patient and by joining the patient in a number of activities such as playing cards, watching television, listening to the radio, reading a book to them, playing a board game, or by simply keeping them company.

    Join Rehabilitation Sessions

    • Attending some rehabilitation sessions together with the stroke victim is another way that family members can help someone recovering from a stroke. Attending rehabilitation sessions is beneficial in learning how rehabilitation works and how to help a family member who has suffered a stroke to recover. This not only helps the victim to learn about rehabilitation but family members as well. Additionally, meeting with doctors allows family members to ask questions and find out about patient's progress.

    Practice Skills Learned

    • It is important that family members help the person who has suffered a stroke to practice the skills learned in rehabilitation. These skills can include learning how to walk, talk, eat, balance, make use of their hands, and learning how to speak clearly. Family members can perform activities that fit the needs and interests of the patient so that they will be more interested in relearning the functions that they've lost. Be aware of what the patient can or can't do alone so that the patient can be helped when needed.

    Help Only When Needed

    • Be sure to avoid doing things for the patient if they can do it on their own. This will encourage them to learn to do things on their own and increase their confidence. Helping a stoke victim at all times will not allow them to gain the ability to do things on their own nor to gain back the functions that they have lost if family members do everything for them.

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