How a Life Care Community Can Support Stroke Recovery
Every year, 800,000 strokes occur in the United States. If you’re an older adult, you are among the most vulnerable, with nearly three-quarters of all strokes occurring in people age 65 or older. And if you have high blood pressure, you’re at even greater risk for stroke and heart attack. Aside from adopting healthy habits to keep your body in good shape, there isn’t much you can do to ensure you’ll never have a stroke in your life. But you can be prepared.
With May being Stroke Awareness Month, take the time to learn the common warning signs of a stroke and read up on the recovery process. At Edgemere in Dallas, we’re doing our part to ensure our Life Care residents are educated on the topic of strokes and aware of how our community can support them in the event that they find themselves recovering from a stroke.
Common warning signs of a stroke
When a person has suffered a stroke, it is of paramount importance that they get medical attention as soon as possible. The sooner they can receive treatment from a medical professional, the better their chances of mitigating any lasting damage from the stroke.
Common signs and symptoms of a stroke include:
- Weakness in the face, arm or leg
- Speech difficulty
- Face drooping
- Impaired or lost vision
- Lack of coordination
- Sudden severe headache
If you notice a person experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 or emergency medical services immediately. If it helps, think of the acronym F.A.ST. It reminds you to watch for face drooping, arm weakness, and slurred speech. Then you know it’s time to call 911.
Rehab and recovery from a stroke
The recovery period for a stroke is generally five to six weeks, but everyone’s situation is different. It will depend on the severity of the stroke and other factors. The common thread from one recovery period to the next is that it can be a challenge, no matter who you are.
When we talk about rehab and recovery, we’re talking about physical, occupational and speech therapy. Physical therapy will be required to address disabilities related to motor and sensory impairment. Restoring physical functions, like standing, walking and changing position, means working through rehab exercises focused on balance, coordination and range of motion.
The good news is that Edgemere can help you every step of the way.
In-Patient Rehabilitation for Dallas Seniors
You don’t have to be a current resident at Edgemere to receive the benefit of our health services. Non-residents who have been discharged from the hospital can be transferred to the health center at Edgemere for in-patient rehabilitation or skilled nursing. Our in-patient rehabilitation unit is state-of-the-art, allowing our team to provide patients with a variety of treatments for both ongoing care and post-acute recovery efforts. And as a resident of our health center, you have access to all the services and amenities our community has to offer.
Rehabilitation for Edgemere Independent Living Residents
If you’re a resident of the independent living community at Edgemere, you’re in good hands. When a resident suffers a stroke, they are immediately hospitalized for treatment. But once they have been discharged and are ready to embark on the road to recovery, that’s where our team steps in to provide the rehabilitation services they need to reclaim their independence. Because all of the health services are provided on campus, you don’t have to worry about being shuttled from one location to another, and your support system is never far away.
Benefits of community health services at Edgemere
Recovering from a stroke is a process, and you need people you can trust to guide you through it. Team members at Edgemere are all well acquainted with the best and most current practices on how to provide for residents who have suffered a stroke. Not only that, but our nurses are also trained in how to perform proper assessments, including detection and signs of symptoms of strokes, so the appropriate steps are taken before and after a resident experiences a stroke.
With all of your physical, occupational and speech therapy needs under one roof, what more could you need? The road to recovery begins in the health center at Edgemere.
To learn more about Edgemere’s community or the services offered at our health center, please fill out the form below or call us at 214-265-9100.