Stroke Recovery Tips in Alexandria

This National Stroke Month, we want to provide a guide including common stroke symptoms, how to best recover, and local resources for those here in Alexandria.

A stroke is a brain injury that occurs when the brain cannot get enough oxygen and nutrients. It happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or reduced. Without the proper amount of oxygen and nutrients, the brain cells quickly die. With early action, however, brain damage can be minimized and complications mitigated. When you suspect someone may be experiencing a stroke, remember BEFAST. Balance loss, Eye changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 911.

Common Symptoms While Recovering

After surviving a stroke, you may experience physical, mental, and emotional effects. Some of the physical conditions are:

• Weakness or paralysis
• Balance complications
• Pain sensations or numbness
• Trouble swallowing
• Bowel and bladder control problems
• Fatigue

Common mental health symptoms include:

• Aphasia
• Cognitive complications
• Bodily inattention
• Unawareness of symptoms

Emotional effects include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood swings

Tips for the Best Possible Recovery

The American Stroke Association offers the following recovery tips for stroke survivors and their caregivers:

• Ask your doctor to assess all changes, physical and cognitive, and the challenges you may face after your stroke. Ask them to provide a plan to help address each challenge.
• Work with your PCP on a plan to manage your risk of another stroke. Common risk-reducing suggestions may include being more active, quitting smoking, and managing your blood pressure.
• Start your personal rehabilitation program as soon as your medical team indicates it is safe to do so. Recovery can take a long time, but the quickest progress usually occurs in the first three months following a stroke
• Work with your medical team to determine where the best local rehab options are. This could be a formal facility or the comfort of your own home.
• Talk with your health care providers about any financial issues that may arise as you undergo your rehab treatment. They will likely know of community resources to help.
• Follow up regularly with your medical team. Some challenges may arise later, and it is recommended to keep them informed of any changes.

Local Resources

Inova – while they offer stroke-specific care, they also provide free support groups for both patients and caregivers. Topics discussed typically include understanding strokes, reducing risk, safely performing ADLs, nutrition, and available community services.

The Physical Therapy Zone – located in Alexandria, they can help relieve the effects by stroke rehab by working to improve balance, walking, and the use of assistive devices.

Stroke Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital – they bring together physicians and health care providers from multiple specialties to provide comprehensive evaluation and management of stroke patients. They aim to provide outstanding care to all patients with acute stroke.

Griswold Can Help

Stroke recovery doesn’t end at the hospital. Healing continues at home, and no one should have to go through it alone. During Stroke Awareness Month, we’re recognizing the strength of survivors and the families who support them every day. At Griswold Home Care for Northern Virginia East, our non-medical caregivers can help make recovery at home safer, more comfortable, and less overwhelming by providing companionship, emotional support, help with daily routines, personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and more.

Our Caregivers can provide respite care, if you need a short break, all the way up to 24-hour home care, for those who need support throughout the day and night. We provide home care services throughout Northeast Virginia, including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Mt Vernon, Springfield, and the surrounding areas. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can best help you. We can put together a personalized care plan and often have a Caregiver to your home within 24 hours.