If you have an elderly loved ones, you must read this!

I’m Catherina Bertaina, and I have been in home care for 31 years. In this blog post, we’re going to discuss strokes in seniors’ lives. I want to emphasize how important it is to recognize when your loved one could be having a stroke. 

Paralysis and sometimes even death – these are the worst things you do not want to happen to your loved ones. But these are the most probable outcomes if you can’t recognize them having a stroke. .

I remember when my grandfather was having a stroke. He was in his 70s and I was around 10 to 12 years old. The only person around was my grandmother. No one realized that it was happening. He had some residual short term paralysis but never got checked by a professional. He did not do anything about it.

Then his second stroke came. Sadly, he did not make it. He passed away.

It was really devastating.

Most Obvious Signs of a Stroke

Today, I am going to talk about the most obvious signs when someone is having a stroke. If you know anyone who is experiencing these symptoms please call 911 immediately. It can make a huge difference.

Now, I want you to remember this four-letter word, F.A.S.T. Easy to remember, right? With this word, you won’t miss a sign of a stroke. Here is your checklist:

  • F – Face
  • A – Arm
  • S – Speech
  • T – Time

F is for Face

During the stroke, the face can often have paralysis on one side. It can be drooping of the mouth or around the eyes. If you see someone with this symptom, ask him to smile. Check if it’s a genuine full face smile or if it has some kind of a dip on one side. That could be a sign of a stroke.

A is for Arm

Paralysis on one side of the arms can also signify a stroke. It could be just a part of an arm or the whole arm itself. In this situation, ask the person to raise both arms. If they both go up properly, that’s a good sign. If not and shows difficulty in movement then you have to call 911 immediately.

S is for Speech

A person having a stroke can have difficulty talking. It usually comes out like muttering or indistinguishable words. It can even be slurred. Listen well then ask your loved one to repeat simple sentences like “I love you” and see how it sounds.

T is for Time

Time is the essence in this situation. Call 911 immediately. Let the paramedics make the judgment for the health and survival of your loved ones. Do not hesitate. A false alarm is better than not reacting to the stroke. Hesitation can make things much worse. 

These are some of the symptoms a stroke patient can have. But not all of them have these signs. Women that are being affected have less obvious symptoms than men.

Unusual and Less Common Symptoms of Stroke

Hiccups

Sometimes women experience a hiccup out of the blue and it can be a sign of stroke. 

Nausea and Vomiting

Not related to any flu symptoms but of course not all the time it is a sign of stroke but it is a telltale sign.

Seizures

This is a less common sign of stroke but definitely a serious symptom to take into account. Stroke or not, you better call 911 immediately.

General Weakness

All of a sudden you feel drained and weak.

Shortness of Breath

Unrelated to asthma attacks, just difficulty in breathing.

When it comes to the health of your loved ones, especially those in senior age, be well equipped with the right information you might be needing in case of emergencies. Try to remember the most important thing that you can do to assess the situation. Be more mindful and calm. But most importantly, do not hesitate when you see something unusual. Call for professional help immediately. Call 911!

To learn more on how to be prepared in the event of a stroke, please go to our website www.colonialhomecareservices.com  or give us a call at 1800-497-1287. We are available 24 hours a day to serve you.