Life Goes On, The Caregiver

Stroke Survivor's Guide to Getting Things Done I was recently made aware of a wonderful series of videos made by an actual Stroke Survivor (& filmed by his wife). Paul had a stroke in May 2017 and has worked very hard at "recovery", but he has been left with deficits which he continues to work hard at overcoming.  Paul's videos show in wonderful detail just how he is managing to do the "normal" things that many of us take for granted and he does so in a way that is both encouraging and instructive for other Stroke Survivors and their support systems. No Stroke Survivor is the same, but watching a real life Survivor mastering everyday life is inspirational for all of us going through this journey. I highly recommend subscribing to Paul's channel,  The Stroke Survivor's Guide to Getting Things Done . https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCo6Ji-wjeNiF6nKYsuw7EQ ( he continues to add new videos so check back regularly )

Atrial fibrillation  ( AF  or  A-fib ) is an  abnormal heart rhythm  characterized by  rapid and irregular beating  of the  atria .  Often it starts as brief periods of abnormal  beating  which become longer and possibly constant over time.  Often episodes have no symptoms.  Occasionally there may be heart  palpitations ,  fainting ,  lightheadedness ,  shortness of breath , or  chest pain .  The disease is associated with an increased risk of  heart failure ,  dementia , and  stroke .  It is a type of  supraventricular tachycardia .   ( from Wikipedia ) See AFibAre you at risk?   AFib is linked with a 5x higher risk of stroke. Take a quiz from the American Heart Association Visit heart.org/AFibTools to learn more  about AFib symptoms and stroke risk.  Back to Home

" Medicaid Waivers help provide services to people who would otherwise be in a nursing home or hospital to receive long-term care in the community. Although there are waivers for many conditions, our focus is towards waivers for people who have intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and autism. " ( http://medicaidwaiver.org/index.html ) SEE ELDERLY / SENIOR CARE WAIVERS " Many people who qualify for waiver services are not even aware that they exist. Families struggle alone, to provide care- creating economic, physical, and emotional strain. States do not educate people about these programs, and it is often only through crisis that people realize help is available. "  ( http://medicaidwaiver.org/index.html ) Find YOUR State for Available Resources Back to Home

3 clues to understanding your brain Vilayanur Ramachandran tells us what brain damage can reveal  about the connection between celebral tissue and the mind, using three startling delusions as examples. for more info ⇋ A look inside the brain in real time Neuroscientist and inventor Christopher deCharms demonstrates a new way to use fMRI to show brain activity -- thoughts, emotions, pain -- while it is happening. In other words, you can actually see how you feel. for more info ⇋ My stroke of insight Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions -- motion, speech, self-awareness -- shut down one by one. An astonishing story. for more info Back to Home

Think F.A.S.T. FACE : Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? ARMS : Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? SPEECH : Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange? TIME : If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Think F.A.S.T. FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange? TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Think F.A.S.T. FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange? TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

As the wife of a stroke survivor I've found I have a reaction inside my gut every time I hear of someone having a stroke... actually I am both the wife of a survivor AND the daughter of a woman who died several months after having a massive stroke. The word STROKE itself makes me feel a sharp pain as I dig my fingernails into my palms. According to WebMD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)  describes many people who experience or witness severe trauma (such as the death or illness of a loved one) and who relive the ordeal through memories, flashbacks and nightmare; they develop problems dealing with others, expressing themselves, and may have symptoms that keep them from functioning in a "normal" life. For people who experience a traumatic event these reactions are normal, but most people outgrow them in time. People who don't outgrow these crippling reactions, who are diagnosed with PTSD, often need help to find ways to cope. " Treatment for PTSD  may inv