Render appropriate assistance according to the ability of the patients, and let them try take care of their daily personal cleaning such as grooming and changing clothes.
Prolonged confinement to bed and lack of physical exercise exert excessive pressure on the skin and create pressure sores and skin ulceration.
Find out the main cause of urinary incontinence and apply appropriate treatment. For patients with a urinary catheter, the urinary catheter must be fixed and replaced as needed, and the urethral orifice must be cleaned daily. Pay attention to signs of infection and treat them early.
Choose foods that are easy to eat and digest. Pay attention to balanced nutrition and keep an ideal weight. The amount of food can be based on the principle of a healthy diet pyramid with more cereals, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and eggs; milk and substitutes should be of an appropriate quantity for a balanced nutrition and enhancement of the body's anti-virus ability. Diet should be light with a reduced intake of oil, salt, and sugar.
Some patients have difficulty in swallowing due to an impaired function of controlling the swallowing muscles of the mouth. For these cases, follow the assessment and recommendations of the medical team, prepare suitable food for the patients, and watch the patients closely while eating.
Regular exercise and correct posture will keep the range of motion of the joints and reduce the chance of muscle atrophy and spasm.
When suffering from the big changes caused by strokes, patients may have emotional problems and even induce post-stroke depression. Carers should give due regard to the patients’ situations and pay attention to their psychological changes. Through care, consideration and help, carers can face these changes and challenges together with the patients. If depression is suspected of a stroke patient, seek assistance from the medical team.
If the patients cannot speak correctly, cannot understand other people's messages, or cannot follow other person's instructions after understanding, these will increase the patients’ difficulty in communicating with others. Therefore, patience and encouragement should be exercised when communicating with patients. Simple words, gestures, and some auxiliary tools such as objects, pictures, or text can help communication.
Stroke patients suffer from impaired physical functions, and their mobility will be impaired. With the advancement of science and technology, new suitable products can be identified to assist with their daily life. Occupational therapists can also perform home assessments for these patients and make recommendations for modification.
Stroke patients who require high-level care should be taken to day care centers regularly to expand their social life where feasible. At the same time, carers can join mutual help groups and share their experience with fellow carers to support one another and reduce stress in their work.
