Rehabilitation of an elderly person after a stroke: main directions of recovery

Left hemisphere stroke is a stroke that affects the left hemisphere of the brain. It occurs an order of magnitude more often than a right hemisphere stroke, which is explained by the functions of the circulatory system. At the moment, medical advances make it possible to avoid serious consequences in the event of a stroke of the left hemisphere.

Features of a left hemisphere stroke

The main features of a left hemisphere stroke are paralysis of the right limbs, difficulties with the speech apparatus and disruption of the human motor system. Stroke occurs in a predominant number of cases in patients suffering from diabetes, overweight people and those whose cholesterol in the body exceeds the norm. It is worth noting that with a stroke of the left hemisphere, the first symptoms appear on the right side. Scientifically speaking, during a stroke, brain cells die and neural connections are affected.

It must be said that left-sided stroke appears gradually, it has two stages. At the first stage, a person feels excessive sweating and increased heart rate - it is called an ischemic attack and lasts several minutes. If no action is taken, the second, more severe stage occurs. Then the person experiences fainting or semi-fainting, and nausea.

Functions of the left hemisphere

• Speech, memorizing words, learning other languages;
• Letter;
• Reading;
• Check;
• Good mood (joy, friendliness, happiness, goodwill);
• Motor functions of the right side of the body;
• Humor;
• Logical thinking;
• Extraordinary thinking;
• Reading maps and diagrams;
• Memorization;
• Chronological order of events that occurred;
• Future plans;
• Detailed consideration of situations;
• Formulating a question, problem, task;
• Active in conversations, desire to communicate;
• Assessment of situations and events;
• Optimistic view of the world;
• Linear representations;
• Analysis;
• Interpreting words or phrases through signs and symbols;
• Structure;
• Predictability;
• Sequential information processing.

Expert opinion

Author: Georgy Romanovich Popov

Neurologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences

In the structure of mortality, stroke ranks third after heart attacks and cancer. As a result of acute cerebrovascular accident, loss of ability to work develops. In 20–30% of cases, patients lose it completely. According to WHO statistics, 30% of strokes are fatal. Impaired cerebral circulation leads to disability. More than 60% of patients become disabled, 10% lose the ability to self-care. Such statistics are disappointing because recently doctors have been recording the occurrence of stroke at a young age.

Diagnosis of left-sided lesions is made much more often. This form of pathology has characteristic clinical signs in contrast to right-sided lesions. The Yusupov Hospital uses the latest CT and MRI equipment for examination. This is an informative way to quickly determine the location of the pathological focus and the degree of damage to brain tissue. Qualified neurologists at the Yusupov Hospital develop an individual treatment plan. Each patient is provided with preventive recommendations. Compliance with medical prescriptions can speed up recovery and reduce the risk of another stroke.

Symptoms of a left-sided stroke

Pathology disrupts the normal functioning of brain cells that perform the functions listed in the previous section. Therefore, in addition to the general manifestations of cerebral circulation disorders, the clinical picture in such patients has characteristic symptoms:

• sharp pain in the left side of the head;
• dizziness, loss of consciousness;
• violation of salivation (salivation);
• tachycardia, disturbance of the rhythmic pattern of the heart;
• nausea, vomiting;
• convulsive syndrome;
• increased body temperature;
• tachypnea (rapid shallow breathing);
• feeling of fear.

Specific signs:

1. Right-sided hemiparesis. A decrease in muscle strength in one half of the body is the most common sign of hemispheric localization of pathology. Hemiparesis is diagnosed in 80-90% of patients (according to the Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy). Moreover, if after a stroke the left side of the body is paralyzed, then most likely the pathological focus is located in the right hemisphere. If muscle weakness and decreased control of movements are observed on the right, an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke has affected the left side of the brain. In addition to muscles, tendons are also involved in the process, forming contractures. The right side of the body is not only paralyzed, but also loses sensitivity.
2. Speech impairment. The patient ceases to understand the meaning of words addressed to him, cannot talk about himself, or describe the surrounding situation. In severe cases, he completely loses the ability to speak.
3. Memory impairment. A stroke on the left side of the brain leads to deterioration or complete loss of the ability to remember numerical values. The patient is confused about calendar dates, telephone numbers, addresses, and is incapable of simple arithmetic operations.

Causes of left hemisphere stroke

1. Obesity. If a person is not physically active, they are at risk of stroke. In order to protect yourself from this, you should lead a healthy lifestyle: eat right, exercise regularly.
2. Too much physical activity. The other side of physical activity - overexertion - can also lead to a stroke, therefore, you need to correctly calculate your strength, you cannot use up your entire energy reserve, it is important to take long breaks between workouts, and then put a sharp load on the body.
3. Excessive use of medications. Oversaturation with drugs can lead not only to stroke, but also to a number of other diseases. Therefore, you should always monitor this and consult a doctor before taking medications.
4. Violation of body functions that arise due to a person’s lack of physical activity (this is called physical inactivity).
5. Vascular diseases and heart diseases. Normal pain can lead to a stroke if you do not see a doctor and do not follow the right treatment.
6. Autoimmune diseases are pathologies that appear due to a failure of the body’s defenses.
7. Diabetes.
8. Vein thrombosis is a venous disease in which a blood clot (i.e. thrombus) forms in the lumen of a vessel, which leads to impaired blood circulation in this perimeter of the skin.
9. Arterial hypertension is a prolonged excess of blood pressure in a calm, peaceful state.
10. Age characteristics of the body. Even natural aging can cause disruption of certain functions in the body.
11. Alcohol abuse.
12. Smoking.
13. Regular or long-term use of contraceptives.
14. The appearance of vasculitis - diseases affecting the capillaries of the skin, joints, intestinal tract and kidneys.

Symptoms of a left hemisphere stroke:

• Insensitivity. Numbness in the arms and legs can be the cause of a person’s pre-stroke condition;
• Poor spatial orientation, loss of control over one’s own body;
• Unnatural facial expression. For example, the corners of the lips may be raised, which creates the feeling that the face is skewed, and the lower eyelid, on the contrary, is drooping;
• Convulsions and vomiting;
• Pain in the head that increases, prolonged dizziness;
• Blurred vision, vision deteriorates significantly;
• Speech apparatus disorder;
• Severe, prolonged pain in the chest area;
• Clouding of consciousness;
• Photophobia and sound sensitivity;
• Unjustified surges in blood pressure in the body;
• Restriction of movements.

Symptoms can also be divided into three groups:

1. General symptoms. They appear due to increased pressure and disruption of the meninges. It is quite difficult to immediately understand that this is a pre-stroke condition. Only if the stroke is extensive, the signs are obvious.
2. Vegetative symptoms. They occur as a result of pressure fluctuations and heartbeat disturbances. It is easier to track these symptoms because the patient’s skin color changes, panic grows, and he begins to fear death.
3. Symptoms of the neurological picture of the disease. They appear due to the focus of the disease. They are accompanied by impaired sensitivity, numbness of the limbs, convulsions, loss of hearing, vision and sometimes even memory.

A stroke does not last long, only a few minutes, but sometimes, if care is not taken to treat the patient, it can be fatal. A left hemisphere stroke is accompanied by:

• paralysis of the right side of the body;
• unintelligible speech;
• short-term amnesia.

Prevention of recurrent stroke

To prevent stroke and re-stroke, the following prevention recommendations should be followed:

• Pay attention to blood pressure; high levels often cause cerebral hemorrhage.
• If you suffer from hypertension, consult your doctor and choose the appropriate medication. For a better effect of normalizing blood pressure, you can combine taking pills with moderate exercise.
• Spend more time outdoors, walk more often slowly.
• Give up bad habits, they are the main cause of an attack.
• Watch your weight. Excess weight increases the risk of stroke.
• Try to find positive moments, reasons to laugh, be happy, and do what you love.

Which stroke is more dangerous: right-sided or left-sided?

When comparing right-sided and left-sided strokes, it is impossible to say for sure which one is more dangerous because each has its own consequences, but some believe that right-sided stroke entails more difficulties. When the right hemisphere is damaged, patients are unable to perform usual actions again; they have to learn walking, writing, literacy, and speech, which greatly affects social adaptation. They are also forced to relearn tactile sensations and control of their own actions and body. This takes a lot of time and effort, so some patients may give up at this stage. But people with a right-sided hemisphere stroke are less susceptible to depression and mental disorders, and this speeds up their recovery process.

Diagnosis of left hemisphere stroke

In order to diagnose a left hemisphere stroke before hospitalization, an experienced specialist only needs to visually assess the patient’s condition. Thanks to certain factors, he is able to notice and diagnose the disease.

List of these factors:

• Smile of a patient. The doctor should ask the patient to smile, and if one side of the mouth is higher or lower than the other, that is, the smile is skewed, this means the first sign of a left hemisphere stroke.
• Incoherent slow speech. If the patient speaks unintelligibly, illogically, with long pauses, this is also one of the signs of a left hemisphere stroke.
• Impairment of the musculoskeletal system. In the case of a stroke, the patient has poor control of his body, he has problems with movement and coordination. Often he cannot stand firmly on his feet and maintain balance, which provokes a fall.
• Semi-fainting and impaired consciousness of the patient.
• The patient complains of headache, blurred vision, double vision.

Differential diagnosis can be divided into two criteria:

1. Criterion for thrombosis of a cerebral vessel. The age most often exceeds 50 years. Focal neurological symptoms often occur. Pallor is characteristic. Appears gradually. Most often occurs at night or early in the morning.
2. A criterion for embolism (a process during which particles that should not occur there under normal conditions circulate in the blood and lymph) of the brain. Absolutely any age with the presence of embolism. No previous symptoms. Pallor also appears on the patient’s face. The onset of the disease occurs suddenly.

During instrumental diagnosis of a stroke in the left hemisphere, a slowdown in blood supply to brain tissue is detected, which causes poor functioning and destruction of neurons. In most cases, this occurs due to blockage of blood vessels by a blood clot.

General diagnosis of left hemisphere stroke:

• Taking an anamnesis is collecting facts about the patient’s condition from people close to him.
• Visit to a neurologist.
• Blood tests as part of laboratory diagnostics.
• Complete examination of the human body.
• Examination using computed tomography of the brain or MRI.
• ECG (electrocardiogram).
• Blood pressure measurement.

Diagnosis, treatment, consequences

To diagnose AI at home, just do a few tests:

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1. You need to smile and stick out your tongue a little. If pathology is present, a left- or right-sided skew is noted.
2. Raise your hands up. If there is an illness, then this becomes difficult to do.
3. You need to provide your full name, date of birth and address. The sick person may not remember this. Speech will also be slurred.

How is the disease diagnosed in the clinic?

AI is an emergency condition, so if one of the signs is present, you must immediately call an ambulance or take the patient to a specialist!

At the clinic, the doctor conducts a thorough examination. First of all, an anamnesis is collected, that is, relatives are interviewed about the manifestation of symptoms, possible causes, etc. Next, the doctor collects laboratory tests (blood and urine). Then a physical examination is carried out (tests, etc., which indicate disorders in the heart, respiratory tract, genitourinary organs, brain). And only after this an instrumental examination is used. This can be computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Intestinal adhesions are pathological “sticking” formations that arise between various organs located in the abdominal cavity and provoke “soldering” of their walls together. Read more in the article: “symptoms of intestinal adhesive disease.”

Treatment methods

The main goal of therapy is aimed at restoring functionality and preventing the development of complications, and they can be the most unpredictable.

Standard treatment is based on the following measures:

1. Normalization of respiratory functions. To do this, the doctor may suggest a tracheotomy, connection to a mechanical ventilation and sanitation.
2. Normalization of the activity of the heart and blood vessels. First of all, it regulates blood pressure. The doctor prescribes antioxidants, glycosides or antiarrhythmic drugs.
3. Restoration of water, salt, acid and alkaline balance.
4. It is important to protect brain structures through neuroprotection.
5. Elimination of symptoms with medications.
6. Prevention of bedsores.

What consequences may there be

What consequences can there be, how long do people live with an ischemic stroke on the right or left side? This question is the most popular, since every person cares about his own life. You need to know that this depends on the severity and type of disease.

In general, the consequences can be as follows:

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Differential diagnosis of different types of stroke

This type of diagnosis is performed to distinguish ischemic stroke (left hemisphere) from hemorrhagic stroke. Most often this is possible through CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Diagnostics will also make it possible to distinguish a stroke from a number of other diseases (tumors, hypertension and others). If a hemorrhagic stroke is suspected, fluid is often removed from the spinal cord. Sometimes a picture of the eyeball is taken to see if there is blood or vascular changes on the retina.

What's happened

A stroke is a sudden disruption of the normal blood supply to the brain.
Based on the nature of the disorders, there are two main types of stroke: ischemic (often called cerebral infarction) and hemorrhagic (including subarachnoid hemorrhage). This article will talk about ischemic stroke, which is 4 times more common than hemorrhagic stroke. The word “ischemic” literally means that there is not enough blood flowing to one or another organ - with such a stroke, blood does not flow to the brain due to blockage or severe narrowing of the main arteries. As a result, brain tissue cells die.

Treatment of left hemisphere stroke

Before the doctor arrives, it is important to provide the patient with the necessary first aid. It is worth following a specific algorithm of actions. The main thing is not to panic, not to react to the patient’s panic, not to get irritated, to do everything confidently and carefully, otherwise death may occur before the ambulance team arrives.

So, there are several methods of providing assistance before the arrival of doctors; they will help improve the patient’s condition:

1. Place the patient on a flat surface and place a pillow under the head to elevate it slightly.
2. Remove all clothing that presses, causes discomfort or paralyzes movement. Be sure to unfasten your belt, take off your tie, and unbutton your shirt.
3. If there are symptoms of vomiting, carefully turn the patient's head to the side so that vomit does not enter the throat or respiratory tract.
4. Open a window or window to make it easier for the patient to breathe and allow air to enter the room.
5. When convulsions occur, it is necessary to prevent tongue biting.
6. If possible, blood pressure should be measured.

Doctors carry out therapy that minimizes trauma to the patient’s nerves and muscles. It preserves the functioning of the brain and cardiovascular system, helps restore blood circulation and brain tissue. With the combination of all methods of this therapy, we will obtain the best effect for the health and condition of the patient.

However, there are rare cases when this therapy does not give the desired result. Then drug therapy is prescribed, which includes a number of drugs necessary to maintain the patient’s condition and aimed at normalizing blood flow. Thrombotic therapy is also effective and beneficial. But it should be noted that drug therapy must be prescribed to the patient within five hours after a left hemisphere stroke; the drug is quite strong - it inflames blood clots and restores blood circulation.

If all treatment is not effective enough, the patient is prescribed special preventive measures and rehabilitation courses aimed at maintaining the functioning of the body.

Drug therapy includes several groups of drugs:

1. Thrombolytics are medications that can dissolve blood clots. They should be activated in the first hours after blood clots resolve.
2. Anticoagulants are medicinal substances that inhibit the activity of the blood coagulation system and prevent the formation of blood clots.
3. Tablets and regulators that help lower blood pressure.
4. Vasoactive drugs are medications whose effect is to improve blood supply to nerve tissue cells.
5. Neuroprotectors are drugs that protect nerve cells from the effects of negative factors.
6. Nootropic drugs are drugs that have a specific effect on the higher mental functions of the brain (that is, these are processes that are unique to humans).
7. Vitamins.

Also, for a stroke of the left hemisphere, surgery can be used. It exists to remove the inner wall of the carotid artery damaged due to a stroke during surgery. The operation is most often performed under local anesthesia, as it is not very difficult for experienced specialists. There should be no long-term complications after it; the patient most often recovers within a few weeks. The operation is quick: the attending surgeon makes a small incision for the patient in the desired area (where the artery is damaged), then finds the carotid artery, applies a clamp and removes atheromatous plaques (deposits on the vessels, which most often cause circulatory problems) from the artery wall.

What is the danger?

The danger of a stroke lies not in the side of the lesion, but in the vastness of the focus involved in the process of ischemia or hemorrhage. The speed of providing first aid is of great importance: the sooner it is provided, the better the patient’s prognosis for replenishment of lost functions and recovery. The best results are obtained by timely and comprehensive organization of restoration procedures, which are developed in each individual case and complement each other.

The Center for Progressive Medicine “Doctor Pozvonkov” has in its arsenal all the necessary techniques for the multidirectional restoration of a person’s lost motor, sensory, speech and mnestic capabilities. All patients who have suffered a stroke require full rehabilitation, regardless of the location of the lesion. Coordinated interactions with doctors significantly reduce the percentage of disability among victims.

Rehabilitation after a stroke of the left hemisphere

So, after a stroke, it is important not only to recover, but also to undergo a recovery course in order to bring your life back to normal, get rid of the discomfort after the disease and prevent its recurrence. This is most important for the body, because it is at the time of rehabilitation that all functions affected by a stroke are restored. In order for rehabilitation to be more successful, efficient and faster, patients are encouraged to stay in a special center.

However, before talking about the necessary rehabilitation measures, it is worth mentioning what body functions were affected during a left hemisphere stroke:

• Smell, sight and hearing;
• Short-term memory;
• Ability to analyze a situation, process information, think, logic, etc.;
• Solving problems, reading books, writing;
• Speech;
• Abstract thinking;
• Understanding the meaning of phrases, situations, words;
• Propulsion system.

The more functions are impaired, the longer the rehabilitation. Most often, it takes a long period, and the patient must remain under the supervision of doctors for some time. It is worth noting that the duration of treatment directly depends on the assistance that was provided to the patient during a stroke of the left hemisphere, therefore it is so important to immediately respond to all symptoms, be able to provide first aid, promptly call an ambulance or consult a doctor.

If a patient undergoes rehabilitation in a special center (and this most often happens), he works with a speech therapist and psychologist, attends massages, physical treatments, and takes the necessary medications prescribed by a doctor. He also undergoes special therapy aimed at forcing actions and movement until a certain important function in the body is restored. Sports play a key role; they usually take place in groups under the supervision of a specialist.

Rehabilitation is divided into three periods:

1. Early (first 6 months);
2. Late (6-12 months);
3. Residual (from 12 months).

During the recovery process, it is important to follow the diet prescribed by doctors. It is necessary to increase the proportion of foods that contain fiber in the diet; patients also benefit from red and purple foods; they are allowed to eat meat, vegetables and fruits.

Products that should not be consumed during rehabilitation:

• Dairy products (milk, cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream, cream, kefir);
• Fatty food;
• Eggs;
• Products containing sugar.
• Beef meat.

The diet must be followed so that the body recovers faster after a left hemisphere stroke.

It must be emphasized that during rehabilitation people should not drink alcohol, smoke, or lead an unhealthy lifestyle. The body must recover comprehensively, because a stroke disrupts not only the functioning of the brain, but also other vital functions. It is advisable to eat right, do regular exercise, spend more time in the fresh air, and walk.

Speech rehabilitation after a stroke in an elderly person

After an attack, an elderly patient may lose his previous ability to speak. This is a big blow to the mental health of any of us, and even more so for an elderly person. If such problems do affect you, they must be eliminated as soon as possible.

Rehabilitation after a stroke at this phase requires special actions. Speech pathologies (aphasia) are divided into several types:

• Motor type speech disorder.

An elderly person hears and understands well the speech of others, but due to severe damage to the speech centers, he cannot independently express his thoughts in words.

• Speech disorder of sensory type.

A serious pathology arising from damage to Wernicke's center. An elderly person hears and repeats words, but does not understand their meaning.

Rehabilitation of speech functions must be quick and competent; due to the inability to express their thoughts, an elderly person’s psyche suffers and their moral state deteriorates. It is important that relatives or medical workers should be the first to take the initiative in communication.

For the best effect from the rehabilitation of speech skills, caregivers or loved ones must follow the main rules:

• An elderly patient cannot be left alone and isolated from people; communication must be constant.
• If the patient cannot finish a phrase or word due to damage to the speech center, you cannot help and finish speaking for him. At the same time, you must focus all your attention on what he is saying.
• In especially severe cases, it is recommended to learn to express thoughts with gestures or other communication methods.
• It is necessary to perform exercises for the muscles of the tongue together with the patient.
• For rehabilitation of an elderly person after a stroke, it is very important to find constant contact with the patient and maintain a dialogue on any topic that interests him.

It is ideal if you seek professional help from a speech therapist-aphasiologist. All rehabilitation should take place under his leadership.

Consequences and complications of left hemisphere stroke

Even with all of the above rules, sometimes the patient experiences consequences and complications after a left hemisphere stroke. This:

• Slower speech, problems connecting words. This can be corrected by studying with a speech therapist, but treatment does not always restore speech completely.
• Epilepsy is a process during which a person experiences unexpected seizures.
• Occasional difficulty eating due to problems swallowing.
• Changes in a person’s character and behavior. The patient may experience irritation, unjustified anger, or, conversely, sadness.
• The emergence of mental disorders. For example, the appearance of uncontrollable laughter and crying for no reason.
• Retardation of movements.

The older the patient, the more complications he may experience. Complications such as fever, frequent convulsions, and vomiting can significantly complicate the rehabilitation process.

Sometimes recovery is complicated by the behavior of the patient himself. There are also cases when he does not agree to stay in a special center and undergo rehabilitation, believing that after a course of procedures and treatment he is absolutely healthy. However, ignoring the consequences of a left hemisphere stroke cannot lead to anything good. Often, after some time, the patient is forced to see a doctor again and still undergo treatment at the center.

Dangerous consequences

According to statistics, approximately 10% of patients who have suffered an acute disorder of cerebral circulation on the left side recover completely. The remaining survivors are diagnosed with persistent consequences of the disease. They affect a person’s quality of life and social opportunities. It is difficult to say which stroke is more dangerous - right-sided or left-sided. Different localization of the problem has its own nuances both in the acute period and in the post-stroke period.

Dangerous consequences:

1. Persistence of hemiparesis. Despite the efforts made during the rehabilitation period, the muscles on the affected side do not always return to normal tone. The limbs remain completely or partially paralyzed. In addition to motor dysfunction, sensory disorders also remain on the affected side.
2. Speech disorders. Their severity can range from complete loss of the ability to speak to minor articulation disorders. Often the patient gets confused in words, misinterprets their meaning, and does not understand what is said and heard.
3. Writing disorders. In addition to problems with oral speech, patients may have difficulty writing text.
4. Loss of self-care skills. Disability and need for care are common consequences of cerebral circulation problems.
5. Loss of logical thinking. Left-sided brain lesions negatively affect the ability to make logical conclusions. Patients in the post-stroke period partially or completely lose the ability to adequately and logically assess the world around them.
6. Emotional lability. Causeless fun or depression are symptoms that occur during the rehabilitation period. Apathy can become a serious obstacle when carrying out restorative procedures, since the patient does not want to do anything on his own.

Prognosis for treatment of left hemisphere stroke

The further prognosis of a person’s life after a stroke of the left hemisphere is very individual. Much depends on age, what treatment was prescribed to the patient, whether he was given first aid, procedures during rehabilitation, adherence to the diet recommended by the doctor and sessions with a psychotherapist.

It should be noted that patients who were treated at home rather than in hospital fared significantly worse. The vast majority (about 95%) will die. Also at risk are people who faint frequently, or have problems with their mental health, muscles and joints. To prevent death due to these diseases, they also need to be given proper attention and treatment.

Five years later, many patients have a second left hemisphere stroke. If not, then the chances of a long life increase. However, this is only possible in 11% of all patients. This is why first aid, seeing a doctor, quickly taking action and rehabilitation are so important - if all these points are observed, the likelihood that the patient will fall into these 11% increases.

Rules for bed rest after a stroke in an elderly person

After an attack, a person is hospitalized, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the definition of bed rest. It doesn’t matter at all with what severity of stroke the elderly person was admitted to the hospital - in the first few weeks, and sometimes even months, it is extremely important to lie down more time and reduce any bodily movements to a minimum.

After an ischemic stroke, the most common, unilateral damage is possible, in particular paralysis. The main thing is not to panic and convince the victim that with a reasonable approach to the problem and proper treatment, the lost functions will quickly be restored.

Hospital treatment and rehabilitation after a stroke in an elderly person implies compliance with important rules:

• Under no circumstances should the patient remain in one position for a long time; this is dangerous due to the appearance of bedsores, which will greatly complicate rehabilitation.
• It is necessary to turn the patient over regularly; experts recommend doing this approximately once every two to three hours.
• To restore motor skills and complete recovery, it is important to do therapeutic exercises.
• It is necessary to maintain correct body position.

Please note that an elderly patient will spend a long time in a supine position. Therefore, it is important to provide him with comfortable conditions for the shoulder joints, so that their mobility is preserved. Otherwise, soon the soft tissues and joints will begin to numb, and the elderly person will experience pain in these areas.

In a supine position, the injured arm should be at an elevated level. It is best to use a pillow or cushion for this. You can achieve the maximum effect by placing a small salt bag weighing up to 500 grams. The visible result from the above manipulations should be as follows:

• An elderly patient's arm does not bend at the elbow.
• Keeping your fingers aligned is especially important.
• The distance between the torso and shoulder should be the same and unchanged.

Pay attention to the rules of leg position during primary rehabilitation after a stroke in an elderly person:

• A special cushion should be placed under the legs of an elderly patient. This way you will achieve the desired elevation angle of 15–20 degrees, necessary for proper blood supply.
• There are also special foot rests. When using such a device, you need to check that it is in the neutral position.

Important note: for the patient to be in the correct position, both legs - both the injured and the healthy ones - must lie equally.

Following these rules is vital for proper rehabilitation after a stroke in an elderly person.

If the patient is lying on his side, other recommendations must be followed. Due to the fact that after hemorrhage only one side is paralyzed, the victim must lie in two positions - on the healthy side and on the sick one.

If an elderly patient is lying on the healthy side, place a support under the limbs and a pillow under the sore side. Pre-bend the non-working joints.

If an elderly patient is lying on the paralyzed side, you need to tilt his head down, but not too much. The paralyzed arm must be straightened and the palm placed on the body. In this position, the injured arm should be bent at a right angle, and the healthy arm should be pulled back.

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Prevention of left hemisphere stroke

Prevention includes all the same measures as rehabilitation. A person does physical exercise, only now at home, follows a diet, and carefully monitors his diet. Also, during prevention, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor at certain intervals and take the necessary tests in order to understand whether there is a deterioration or not. If the first symptoms of a recurrence of a left hemisphere stroke appear, you must immediately consult a specialist and undergo treatment. If the risk of a second stroke is high enough, you should return to a special center.

Although the risk of death during a left hemisphere stroke is high, there is a chance of full recovery after rehabilitation. After treatment in the hospital, you only need to follow the doctor’s instructions, follow a diet and exercise in a special center. His future fate depends on what efforts a person makes to recover.

Where to go for help?

It is impossible to provide complete rehabilitation after a stroke in the home environment. Therefore, the most reasonable option for the family of an elderly person who has suffered an attack would be to enter into an agreement with a specialized institution, where he can receive help from highly qualified specialists and undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation program developed taking into account his diagnosis and characteristics of the body.

The Trust boarding house network has been providing care and rehabilitation to stroke victims for the past 5 years. The staff consists of highly qualified doctors and nurses with medical education. The boarding houses have all the conditions for a comfortable stay and full recovery after a stroke:

1. Individual rehabilitation programs aimed at adaptation after a stroke and prevention of a recurrent attack.
2. Regular medical examination of the patient.
3. A full range of rehabilitation procedures: exercise therapy classes, exercises for the rehabilitation of speech and cognitive functions.
4. Drug therapy.
5. Social and psychological assistance, warm and attentive attitude towards each ward.
6. Cozy rooms equipped with functional beds, wheelchairs, orthopedic mattresses.
7. Prevention of bedsores and daily hygiene.
8. Specialized 6 meals a day, rich in vitamins and microelements.
9. Organization of leisure and communication.

By entrusting us with the care of your loved ones, you create decent conditions for life and restoration of their health, thereby reducing the recovery time after a stroke. To find out more details about our programs, leave a request on the website, and we will call you back at a time convenient for you.