Life After Stroke: Navigating the Challenges of Post-Stroke Depression in Seniors

By Dr. Ronald Lawton, Grand River Health Director of Emergency ServicesWhat is a stroke and how does it affect men?A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to die. This can result in loss of function, such as speech, movement, vision, or memory. Stroke is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate attention. According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Men are more likely than women to have a stroke, and they tend to have strokes at a younger age. Men also have a higher risk of dying from a stroke than women.What are the risk factors and warning signs of stroke?Some of the risk factors for stroke are common among men, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. To reduce the risk of stroke, men should adopt a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, managing stress, and getting regular check-ups. Some of the warning signs of stroke are sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden severe headache with no known cause. If you or someone you know experiences any of these signs, call 911 or get to a hospital right away. Remember the acronym FAST to help you recognize and respond to a stroke: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911.What are the treatment options and recovery prospects for stroke?The treatment options and recovery prospects for stroke depend on the type, location, and severity of the stroke, as well as the time of intervention. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke is caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain, and it can be treated with clot-busting drugs or mechanical devices that remove the clot. There is a short window of opportunity to use the clot-busting drugs, so it is important to call 911 or get to an emergency department as soon as possible after symptoms begin. Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, and it can be treated with surgery or medication to stop the bleeding and reduce the pressure. The sooner the treatment is started, the better the chances of survival and recovery. Recovery from stroke can be a long and challenging process, involving physical, cognitive, and emotional rehabilitation. Some of the common effects of stroke are paralysis, speech impairment, memory loss, depression, and anxiety. However, with the help of medical professionals, family, friends, and support groups, many stroke survivors can regain some or most of their abilities and enjoy a fulfilling life.

Act FAST For a Stroke!  Stroke is an emergency and a brain attack. Learn how to act FAST and call 911 at the first sign of stroke.Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you remember to think FAST. Use FAST to remember the warning signs:F= Face            Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?A= Arms           Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?S= Speech        Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?T= Time            If you observe any of these signs, its time to call 911May is Stroke Awareness Month. The National Stroke Association has easy ways for you to learn more about stroke before it happens to you or someone else. If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.

More than 750,000 Americans experience a stroke every year. Readjusting to life after a stroke can be overwhelming, but SYNERGY HomeCare Gerontologist Dr. Macie Smith has tips for a successful home-based recovery. When focusing on stroke recovery at home, be sure to review all of the information you received from the hospital and/or rehab facility. This will include any new medications that have been prescribed. It will also include information about in-home care providers for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. If there are prescriptions for any durable medical equipment like a walker or gait belt, make sure to understand how to use them properly.As you recalibrate to your at-home routine, it is important that you stick to the prescribed therapy sessions and that you do the prescribed exercises in between home visits from your therapists.The biggest focus of stroke recovery is getting ones strength back. But its equally important to recognize that a full recovery from a stroke may mean having a new baseline of ability and function. That means you may not get back to what you had before the stroke. Doing your therapy will mean that you get as much back as you possibly can.Another important component of recovery relates to understanding the recovery journey, which is specific to each person. Knowing what to expect during recovery can help manage expectations so frustration or despair doesnt set in. Talk with the doctors and therapists to get a clear picture on how much progress you might expect to make over specific time periods.Pay attention to your or your loved ones mental state during this period of recovery. An extreme sad mood lasting longer than two weeks may be a sign of depression, which will need to be addressed.The bottom line is that there are a lot of moving parts during stroke recovery at home. Family caregivers may be overwhelmed and need some assistance with activities of daily living. Respite care for the family caregiver may also be warranted.SYNERGY HomeCare offers highly personalized levels of quality care as early as pre-discharge from the hospital, and our Stroke Recovery program specializes in supporting a recovery plan at homethe best place to be.To learn how SYNERGY HomeCare can support you following a stay in the hospital, click here.Dr. Macie P. Smith is a licensed gerontology social worker who is focused on helping families support their aging loved ones through long-term care. Specifically, Dr. Smith educates caregivers on how to care for seniors with dementia. She is an advocate for specialized care and assists others in finding a way to provide a better quality of life for individuals with Alzheimers or dementia. Dr. Smith has dedicated over 22 years of her life working in gerontology and assisting families in finding personalized solutions for dementia care. For more information, please call 720-204-5788.