Seeing anyone being faced with a medical emergency is a scary experience. If you know someone who has recently had a stroke, you might feel helpless when it comes to the best ways to help them. Then, here is a guide to some of the best steps that you can take to help someone who has recently had a stroke. Keep reading to find out what you can do if you find yourself in this situation.
Research Strokes
One of the first steps that you can take when you want to help someone who has recently been through a stroke is to research what a stroke is and how it affects the people who have them. This can then give you insight into the issues that they may be dealing with and their emotional state, and can make you understand them and their situation better as a whole. However, you should only use trusted medical websites to do this.
Find the Best Products for Them
Another way that you can help someone who has just had a stroke is to research and find products that could help to make their life easier. For instance, if they have developed dysphagia after their stroke, which means that they find it difficult to swallow, you might consider looking at investing in food thickeners for them, which you can buy from SimplyThick. This can then allow them to adapt to the limitations that the stroke has now created and can aid them in getting back to their normal life as quickly as possible.
Spend Time With Them
Since most people do not have medical training or experience, sometimes, the best way that you can help someone who has just had a stroke is to spend time with them throughout their recovery journey. Keeping them company can make them feel as if you care and can help them to get through the huge emotional burden that a stroke can create for them. Not only will you be able to help them to complete simple tasks when they need you to, but providing a listening ear and being there for them can make them feel less alone.
Advocate for Them
When you have just had a stroke, you may not be able to advocate for the best medical care for yourself. Then, you need to consider taking on this role for them, ensuring that they always get the best care and treatment and that they are comfortable. You should question anything that you are unsure about and seek a second opinion if you are uncertain, as well as take notes that you can refer back to if you often forget what the doctor has told you as soon as they leave.
Help Them to Help Themselves
However, rather than taking over their lives completely and having total control, you should make sure that your efforts are helping them to help themselves. For instance, you should encourage them to perform exercises and certain chores for themselves rather than continually doing every single task for them, as this is the only way that they will be able to get stronger and to start to gradually adapt to their new life.
