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Caregivers for stoke survivors


Tips and info for stroke caregivers

Almost one-third of the U.S. population are informal caregivers and collectively provide about 1.2 billion hours of unpaid work weekly, the equivalent of about 30.5 million full-time care aides. Of those, there are over 2.2 million stoke caregivers in the U.S. So you are not alone.

General tips for caregivers:
Be mindful of you too.

The rewards of caregiving include an improved appreciation of life, feeling needed or appreciated, and the development of a more positive outlook. But caregiving can also be a tremendous burden. It can result in psychological distress, decreased social contact and activity, depression, stress, and an overall decrease in quality of life. If you see any of these things happening to you, try these tips:
  • Seek out caregiver support groups.
  • Do not try to do caregiving 24 hours a day. Take a break.
  • Be sure to take care of you. Eat, take your medications, exercise, rest, go shopping, have some fun. Read this article about Putting Your Own Health First and Safeguarding your own health to help others.
  • Ask for help from family, friends, or community organizations.
  • Remember, you are a caregiver, not a slave.
  • Try to keep a positive attitude. This is an important coping strategy.
Tips for dealing with people with aphasia:
  • Maintain a natural conversational manner appropriate for an adult. If needed, you can simplify your speech by using short, uncomplicated sentences; but don't talk "down" to them. Do not use "baby talk."
  • Don't raise your voice; they are not hard of hearing.
  • Minimize distractions and background noise, such as a blaring radio, whenever possible.
  • Be patient. Repeat the content words or write them down as needed.
  • Include the person in conversations and encourage any type of communication, whether it is speech, gesture, pointing, or drawing.
  • Avoid correcting the individual's speech, unless they ask for help.
  • Do not finish the person's sentence or train of thought for them, unless asked.
  • Allow the person plenty of time to talk.
  • Don't pretend you understood what was said if you did not.
  • A good video of "aphasia etiquette" comes from the Stroke Association of Great Britain.
  • How to Help Someone Who Had a Stroke: A Guide for Caregivers and Family Members
A personal talk given by my husband about caregiving.

Ten Guidelines for Interacting with a Stroke Survivor: 


Associations and websites:
  • The Support Network by the American Stroke Association can help you share your story with others.
  • See the Internet Stroke Center page for general info for caregivers.
  • See the Stroke Family Caregiving for African-Americans, which contains useful information for all caregivers.
  • CaringBridge provides free websites to caregivers to easily post updates and progress for the loved one. This reduces the time and emotional energy spent on repeated phone calls and emails and keeps everyone informed with the same, accurate information.
  • AARP has many tools and resources about caregiving .

General and local caregiving sites:

  • Visit Monica Vest Wheeler's blog.
  • Care Partners Resource's goal is to help answer your questions and teach you techniques to help maintain your identity and manage your own self care.
  • Family Caregiver Alliance was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home.
  • In San Diego, the Southern Caregiver Resource Center helps families and caregivers by providing services for adults with chronic and/or disabling conditions.
  • Caregiver Resource Network contains resource materials as well as programs available in Michigan.
  • See the Well Spouse website for the many facets in supporting a loved one.