How to Spot the Signs of a Stroke

Family in home health care providers can help seniors in Jenkintown, PA maintain their well-being and avoid a devastating outcome by proactively identifying when a loved one is having a stroke

Do you know what the signs of a stroke are? If you are the one providing in home health care for your senior parent in Jenkintown, PA, being able to spot the symptoms of a stroke is crucial. It could end up saving your loved one’s life.

As a provider of in home health care for your senior parent, you do have a bit of a daunting task. It does fall on you to follow your loved one’s health and spot signs of potential diseases. As is the case with many other life threatening conditions, the signs of a stroke should be something you are familiar with. You should also be ready to act at any moment.

FAST is a useful acronym created about 20 years ago in the United Kingdom that can help you figure out if someone in your life is having a stroke.

FAST stands for:

• F – Face Drooping – Do you notice that one side of your senior parent’s face numb or drooping? If you are unsure, a good way to find out is to ask your senior parent to smile. This way, you’ll be able to asses their face for numbness or drooping.
• A – Arm Weakness – Very often, when an individual is experiencing a stroke, one of their arms will become either numb or weak. As your loved one to raise their arms and monitor for any downward drifting.
• S – Speech Difficulty – If your loved one is experiencing slurred speech, they may be having a stroke.
• T – Time to Call 911 – If you have identified any one of these symptoms, you should call 911 immediately. If symptoms have disappeared, your loved one should still seek medical attention. They may still be in danger.

Besides difficulty with speech, arm weakness and facial drooping, if your loved one is experiencing a stroke, they may be experiencing confusion, vision problems, severe headaches and problems with balance and coordination.

The best way to lower your loved one’s risk of stroke is to help them manage their blood pressure. This is done best by maintaining a healthy diet and staying active. Whether or not your loved one is doing any of these things at the moment does not matter so much. It is important to start. This will have an incredible impact on their overall health.

You may also want to consider professional in home health care from Visiting Angels if family caregiving is becoming a bit too much for you. Doing so will have a positive impact on your loved one’s life and you should not feel any shame for it.

To learn more about quality home care solutions for seniors in Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, Huntingdon Valley, Lafayette Hill, Horsham, Lower Gwynedd, and throughout Eastern Montgomery County, PA, call Visiting Angels Jenkintown today at (215) 938-7201.