If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, the idea of going home from the hospital can be daunting. You may be worried about how you’ll manage with the limitations you’re experiencing. Depending on the part of the brain that was affected, your speech, movement, and memory may be impaired. The Visiting Nurse Service of New York can help you monitor your condition at home and better understand the recovery process after a stroke, which affects more than 700,000 people in the U.S. each year.

Understanding Stroke

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery, disrupting blood and oxygen flow to the brain; a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, spilling blood into the brain. In both cases, brain cells die and the person experiencing the stroke can lose function in the part of the body that’s controlled by the affected area of the brain. Getting prompt medical attention can save a person’s life, reduce permanent brain damage, and increase the chances for a full recovery.

While you can’t change a family or personal history of stroke, you can control other risk factors such as smoking, being sedentary or overweight, consuming a high-sodium (high-salt) diet or too much alcohol; you can also improve other risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. If you’ve had a stroke, your doctor will suggest lifestyle modifications and prescribe medications to reduce your chances of having another one. VNSNY can help you follow your treatment plan so you can obtain the greatest benefits from rehabilitation.

How VNSNY Can Help

Our professional staff can help you follow your doctor’s recommendations and enhance recovery from stroke at home. Our services include:

• Helping you to take medications properly and monitoring their effects
• Helping you to make necessary modifications to your diet to control your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight 
• Making your home safer based on your specific limitations to prevent complications, such as falls, and recommending necessary resources, including things for your home that can make it safer and easier to get around
• Providing speech therapy to improve the ability to speak and swallow, as well as aid with memory and comprehension
• Helping you with exercises and activities to maximize recovery at home
• Helping you recognize the signs and symptoms that should prompt you to seek emergency care