In Home Health Care and Stroke Warning Signs

Knowing the signs of a stroke can help you provide top-quality and proactive in home health care for an elderly relative in Annapolis, MD

If you are a family caregiver or just the child or loved one of a senior, it is important to know what the symptoms of stroke are. This information can make a major difference in informing your decisions and how you help your senior parent or relative. This type of education is absolutely mandatory for good in home health care, but many family caregivers are unaware of common signs that an older adult is having a stroke.

The quickest way to help yourself remember what to do if you suspect your loved one may be experiencing a stroke is to think of the mnemonic device called FAST. It will help your remember the most important stroke symptoms.

FAST stands for:

• F – Face Drooping – If one side of your loved one’s face is numb or drooping, they need immediate medical attention.
• A – Arm Weakness – Your loved one may be experiencing weakness or numbing in one arm. This may seem harmless but can actually be a stroke warning sign.
• S – Speech Difficulty – If you notice your loved one slurred their speech or having trouble forming sentences, they may be having a stroke.
• T – Time to Call 911 – Better safe than sorry. If you notice any one of these signs in your loved one, even if you are not sure about whether you are seeing stroke warning signs, call 911. Even if the symptoms go away, a medical professional still needs to look at your loved one.

The following are also some warning signs to watch out for, according to the American Stroke Association:

• Feelings of numbing or weakness in lower and upper extremities
• Any trouble with comprehension, including confusion
• Vision problems, can be in one or both eyes
• Issues with balancing, coordination, and walking or dizziness
• Headaches

There are plenty of ways to help your loved one reduce their risk of stroke in a healthy way. As in home health care providers, Visiting Angels Annapolis been helping seniors throughout Millersville, Annapolis, Pasadena and surrounding communities in Maryland do just that. Here is what our president and CEO had to say about that:

 “Our senior home care professionals provide assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Our compassionate caregivers make it possible for many seniors to continue living at home and for them to remain healthy,” explains Larry Meigs, President and CEO of Visiting Angels.

To find out more about in home health care and warning signs of stroke, please call our Millersville, MD office today. Visiting Angels is here for you and your loved one!