Methods for Recognizing Symptoms of Stroke Used by Senior Care Specialists

Home Care Blog>In Home Care  |  May 10, 2018

Recognizing Symptoms of Stroke in Seniors

Recognizing Symptoms of Stroke | By definition, stroke is a condition in which the blood supply to the brain is cut off. It can happen as a result of different issues, although in most cases, a stroke happens when a sudden artery blockage happens.

Whatever the reason might be, one thing is certain – stroke can cause some really serious consequences. Severe strokes often end up in death, but even the mild ones aren’t to be ignored. They can leave all kinds of consequences, including paralysis, speech impairment, and so on.

All of the reasons are enough to make senior care professionals think of ways for recognizing signs and symptoms of stroke. One way to quickly determine whether a stoke is occurring is to perform the FAST test.

The FAST Test

Senior care providers are using the FAST test in order to ensure their clients are completely healthy. This test enables them to spot sure signs and symptoms of stroke. This is how it’s done:

F-Face: The caregivers need to inspect the senior’s face for any signs of stroke. For instance, they can ask the senior to smile and see whether they’ll be able to do it properly.

A-Arms: The next thing Comfort Keepers will do is ask the senior to lift both of their hands in the air. If one hand drops down, it may mean that a stroke is happening.

S-Speech: The caregivers need to determine whether the senior’s speech sounds strange. This can be done by asking the client to repeat simple sentences.

T-Time: If Comfort Keepers spot some of all of these symptoms, they will know that it’s the right time to call an ambulance.

Other Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

Senior care providers are trained and educated to recognize many other stoke symptoms apart from those that make up the FAST test. The caregivers should have no problems spotting signs of stroke such as:

Problems with balance – If the senior is having problems standing upright on their own, something wrong might be going on.

Impaired vision – If the senior client is complaining that they can’t see properly, the caregivers need to react.

Talking gibberish – If the senior is talking gibberish, it might be a sign that a stroke is taking place.

These are just some of the common signs of stroke, which professional senior care providers need to be able to spot straight away.

Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help Recognizing the Symptoms of Stroke

At Comfort Keepers^®, we create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

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