Stroke Survivors are Learning to Zoom

How does anyone survive a stroke? I relied on my husband, family, friends, and a community that cared. I became the person I am today because I had that community. Now, things are very different. The Coronavirus makes some people stay out of the hospitals. The news I have read is up to 30% to 50% of people having strokes are coming in too late to get the best treatment because they are afraid of getting COVID-19. If you see anyone who is having a stroke, please call 911. I know that the Coronavirus seems scary, but a stroke means that 1.9 million neurons die every minute. You also lose 14 billion synapses. Compared with the normal rate of neuron loss in brain aging, the ischemic brain ages 3.6 years each hour untreated. How Can You Be a Caregiver Now? When you have a loved one in the hospital and you can't get in because of restrictions, how do you stay informed? How do you keep your loved one engaged? I would ask the staff if you can give your loved one a smartphone or tablet. When the doctor, nurse, or other caregiver is in the room, I would ask if they would let you be on the phone. I would also converse with your loved one via Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, or any other method that is acceptable. What do you do when the stroke survivor is released from the hospital? I know in some cases they go straight home. There is no therapy done in a rehab hospital. When the Coronavirus pandemic is over, the stroke survivor may go in for therapy. But they have missed weeks or months of rehab, and every day lost means that it is harder to get better. Maybe you can get home healthcare workers that will come to your house. Maybe your stroke survivor can connect with a stroke group online. There are a few stroke survivor groups meeting via Zoom. Many survivors and caregivers are learning that Zoom is easy enough to learn to use. I think the more a stroke survivor is connecting with people who understand what it is like to have a stroke, the more likely this person is to be motivated and engaged. My thought is that seeing someone else on a camera who has been in a similar position is much better than being alone. Where to Find a Group Maybe you can get home healthcare workers that will come by your house. Maybe your stroke survivor can connect with a stroke group online. There are a few stroke survivor groups meeting via Zoom. Many survivors and caregivers are learning that Zoom is easy enough to learn to use. I think the more a stroke survivor is connecting with people who understand what it is like to have a stroke, the more likely this person is to be motivated to be engaged. My thought is that seeing someone else on a camera who has been in a similar position is much better than being alone. Are you interested in knowing more about these stroke groups? Simply notify me at marcia@StrokeForward.com and I can connect you. These meetings have something for all stroke survivors and their caregivers. www.StrokeForward.comrnhttps://www.facebook.com/StrokeForward/