Home Health Care in Turnersville, NJ
With National Stroke Awareness Month occurring annually in May, it doesn’t hurt for families to learn more about the symptoms and signs. That way they can be more attuned to what could potentially occur with their aging loved ones receiving elderly care. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.” This statistic is a good catalyst for caregivers to develop some awareness regarding stroke.
What Are the Symptoms of Stroke?
- Weakness of the face occurring suddenly, this numbness can also occur on the leg or the arm. This is especially true if these symptoms are concentrated to one side of the individual’s body.
- An individual’s sudden issue with speaking, understanding, and confusion.
- Inability to difficulty seeing from one or both of their eyes.
- Suddenly feeling dizzy, losing balance, having difficulty with coordination, or having difficulty walking.
- The sudden on-set of headaches for no known reason or previous diagnosis.
What Should a Caregiver Do?
If you notice your elderly loved one experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to call 9-1-1 immediately. As difficult as this sounds, keep a calm demeanor and a peaceful composure. How calm a caregiver is has a strong impact on how relaxed their senior loved one remains. Make careful notes of the time the first symptom occurred and relay this information to the paramedic upon arrival. That way, they can use this information during treatment and it could ultimately affect future decisions with treatments.
How Can Caregivers Remember The Symptoms?
One of the easiest ways to remember the key warning signs and symptoms of stroke is to memorize the acronym “FAST.”
- F: Face: when asking the individual to smile, is one side of their face drooping?
- A: Arms: when asking the individual to lift their arms, is one arm drifting downward?
- S: Speech: when asking the individual to repeat a sentence, do they slur their speech?
- T: Time: call 9-1-1 if any of these symptoms or signs are observed.
Knowing this acronym can help you act “fast” when you spot the signs and symptoms of stroke so no time is wasted with regards to helping loved ones received immediate care.
Important Reminders Regarding Stroke
It is important to know and understand the symptoms and signs of stroke because this is the first step toward ensuring the proper medical help is immediately received for your elderly loved one. A senior suffering a stroke will lose around 1.9 million neurons every minute it goes untreated. The loss of this many neurons could result in an individual’s speech impairment, loss of memory, and a number of other cognitive and mobility issues.
For all of your home health care needs in Turnersville, NJ and the surrounding areas call and talk to us at Home to Stay Healthcare Solutions (856) 321-1500.
