Can A Care Coach Be A Stroke Coach? Assisting In Stroke Care
Nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke every year. Stroke is a major cause of disability and death in the U.S. Stroke recovery and rehabilitation can be a long and difficult journey requiring a team of people. This often includes family caregivers, who can easily feel overwhelmed and uncertain about their role.
If you’re a caregiver for a loved one and stroke survivor, consider how a care coach could help. In this blog, we’ll provide you with some introductory information about strokes and stroke recovery. We’ll then explain a few ways that a coach can help you in your caregiving role, from making the home safer to managing transitions for stroke survivors.
Does care coaching sound like something you might be interested in? Check if you have free access.
About Stroke & Stroke Recovery
A stroke happens when a blood vessel leading to the brain either ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke) or is blocked by a blood clot (ischemic stroke). In both cases, the lack of blood flow causes brain cells to die.
Stroke survivors have different experiences depending on the severity of the stroke and the part of the brain it affected. Some of the common physical changes patients see in stroke recovery include:
- Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body
- Spastic muscle movements
- Fatigue
- Seizures
- Difficulty speaking
According to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, one in four stroke patients will have a second stroke. Some of these additional strokes are preventable. Good care helps patients recover faster and more completely. It also helps reduce the risk or even prevent additional strokes. Your role as a caregiver is vital.
Working With A Care Coach During Stroke Recovery
Outcomes for stroke survivors vary based on many factors but are certainly better with rehabilitation and good care. As a caregiver for a loved one, your role matters, but can also feel overwhelming and stressful. Here’s how a care coach can help you during this difficult time.
Benefit From Valuable Resources & Information
Working with a care coach begins with an evaluation. You’ll talk to your coach and explain your situation and needs. They will then develop a customized plan to help you and your loved one.
One of the most important things a coach can do to help you as you navigate stroke recovery with a loved one is to provide a basic stroke education. There is a steep learning curve with stroke and stroke rehabilitation. The more you know and understand about stroke and its recovery, the more confident you’ll feel and the better care you’ll be able to provide.
Your coach will put together a package of resources and recommendations to help you learn. These may include online courses, articles, and caregiver events. They can help you learn about:
- What happens during a stroke, how it affects the brain, causes, and risk factors.
- How stroke survivors heal and the potential long term effects or long term disability for patients.
- Stroke prevention to lower the risk of a second stroke.
- Symptoms of stroke to ensure you access treatment quickly in the event of a second stroke.
- Stroke rehabilitation and treatment, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, exercise, and more.
- The emotional well-being of stroke survivors and how to prevent depression in recovery, including resources like American Heart Association support groups.
Learning as much as you can about stroke, stroke survivors, rehabilitation, and treatment is essential for your role as a caregiver. Being better informed helps you feel more confident in your role. It also helps you provide better, more effective care and directly impacts outcomes for the stroke survivor.
In addition to caring for your loved one, you will need to care for yourself. Your care coach can also direct you to resources and tools for self-care. Caregivers too often neglect their own wellness, which can lead to poor outcomes for you and your loved one. Let a care coach guide you to a stroke support group for caregivers and other important resources.
Manage Care Transitions
One of the difficult aspects of stroke recovery is transitioning between different types of care. Your loved one will likely start with treatment in the hospital. Depending on the severity of the stroke, they may then move to a rehabilitation facility. With improvement in rehab, stroke survivors often transition back home to continue therapy sessions and other treatments.
If you’re a family caregiver, you probably have some, if not all, of the responsibility for making decisions about transitioning care. You also face the responsibility of making the transition back home as smooth and safe as possible.
A care coach can help you navigate these transitions with resources and suggestions based on their expert knowledge and experience. They can also be a sounding board and listen to your concerns and questions. While a coach can’t make decisions for you, they can listen and help you organize your thoughts.
Your care coach can also guide you through some of the more practical aspects of care transitions, providing resources to help you with:
- Financial planning and decision-making
- Determining eligibility for government programs and services, including Medicare and Medicaid programs
- Interpreting insurance coverage
- Organizing and managing medical care and appointments
Improve Home Safety For The Stroke Patient
A big worry for many caregivers of a stroke survivor is safety in the home. In the hospital or rehabilitation facility, they had close care from health care professionals to keep them safe. It’s now up to you and other caregivers to ensure safety in the home.
Your care coach has experience with all aspects of care, including home safety modifications and measures. They can provide resources for making changes to the home that improve safety. They can also offer practical tips and point out areas or aspects of the home that might pose safety risks.
Home safety needs vary depending on the patient and their level of disability. You might only need to make some minor changes, like moving furniture or removing trip hazards.
If your loved one’s disabilities are more severe, your home might need bigger modifications. Your coach can help you find professionals who can help you make this determination and evaluate your home for specific recommendations.
Caring for a loved one after a stroke is a big responsibility. There is a lot to learn and do to help your loved one recover and stay safe. Working with a care coach can be very helpful. From being an empathetic listener to providing practical resources, they can make this journey easier and less stressful. Check if you have free access to Trualta and our care coaches.
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