Prognosis for Stroke Victims: What Should You Expect?

Senior care professionals in Durham, North Carolina, understand that caregivers must anticipate the needs of an elderly loved one after they suffer from a stroke. Although the exact impact that a stroke will have on a senior varies from one individual to another, there are ways to plan for the increased care that your elderly loved one may need after leaving the hospital.

In terms of severity, a stroke is a very intense event if not addressed by medical professionals quickly. In fact, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this particular medical condition is the second leading cause of death around the world. Due to improved medical response and the ability of individuals to get their family members into the hands of healthcare professionals quickly, the mortality rate associated with stroke is declining. In fact, the medical center asserts that over 75 percent of individuals who suffer from a stroke survive for the first year. Over 50 percent survive through the next five years.

The damage that a stroke causes to the body hinges on many factors. First and foremost is the location of the stroke. Depending upon where the bleeding or blockage occurs, the event will result in damage to different parts of the brain. Because the brain’s many parts control different functions and areas of the body, the damage done to them will dictate the lasting effects of the stroke. For instance, an aneurysm that cuts off blood flow to the part of the brain that controls speech may impair the ability of a senior to communicate vocally.

After your elderly loved one’s condition is assessed by a doctor, following the event, it is important to speak with the healthcare professional regarding their individualized prognosis pertaining to the damage that has been done to your loved one’s brain. Through this conversation, you can better gauge the amount of extra care that your senior will need.

Determining the prognosis of a stroke victim is not an easy task, and it is one that requires both family members and medical professionals to remain patient, as the lasting damage of the event will not be evident until after it has occurred. By understanding this damage, though, you can better cater to the needs of your loved one.