Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the number one cause for serious disability in the U.S., with over 6 million strokes reported in the U.S. in those 20 and over for 2006, according to the Stroke Center.  If you or a loved one has just had a stroke, this is an emergency so it is critically important to call 911 immediately, ask where the closest stroke medical center is and follow the directions of the 911 representative.  It is important for you and your loved ones to be aware that stroke victims only have three hours to receive a blood clot busting shot that is proven effective in reducing the risk of long term disability by one third, providing the stroke victim qualifies for treatment.

Knowing you or one of your loved ones may be like or are one of the estimated 6 million people who had a stroke in 2006, it’s wise to be prepared with an emergency prevention plan that is just as valuable as an evacuation plan in case of fire, tornado or earthquake.

Stroke Signs

By identifying stroke signs at the onset, which may be subtle, you may prevent long term disability with speedy treatment. It’s also important to understand the people who have had a stroke may not realize that have stroke symptoms or have had a stroke. This is common in people with brain injuries when the portion of the brain that allows for recognition of symptoms has been impaired due to the stroke or brain injury.

Stroke Types

By knowing the different types of strokes, you can help set reasonable expectations for the management of the stroke and the new lifestyle that may be required due to the risk of repeat stroke emergencies since a good number of stroke victims have repeated strokes over time.

Stroke Disabilities and Rehabilitation

Stroke disabilities vary widely. Some stroke disabilities may be minor, while other may compromise daily living skill activities (ADL’s), such as, the inability to brush hair, dress, shower , cook, feed oneself, walk, remember important tasks and more.   Some stroke victims recover very well, typically over a three month period.   Some stroke victims recover very well until they are challenged by a subsequent stroke. So, rehabilitation may become an ongoing part of life for a stroke victim for quite some time, depending upon the age at the onset of the first stroke. Some stroke disabilities may only slightly improve if at all, making the focus of rehabilitation on new ways to live and to best manage the disabilities.

Your Stroke Disability Management Team

At the onset, emergency room personnel and loved ones will be your stroke disability management team. It is important to note that certain hospitals are designated stroke centers and are best equipped to manage a stroke and possibly prevent the risk of common long term serious disabilities.

Hospital Team

It’s wise to let the hospital know how important it is to you that you identify if you or your loved one is a candidate for the stroke shot very quickly.  It’s also important to stay with you loved one who had the stroke while in the emergency room, particularly when doctors and nurses are visiting. This is because you know best what is normal for your loved one and can best describe symptoms that your loved one may not be likely to be able to communicate accurately. This is called knowing the patient’s baseline and knowing the changes, including subtle symptoms.

Family Team at Hospital and Ongoing

Loved ones need to be part of the support team for a stroke victim at the hospital and beyond. It’s important to work together because stroke victims may present themselves one way to one person, one way to another and may be likely to be more highly disabled when they are home alone. So, close monitoring by loved ones is important for stroke victims on an ongoing basis until the disease is fully understood and managed.  Loved ones communication with physicians and caregivers about symptom evidence and changes in symptoms may vastly improve the quality of life for a stroke victim and family members.  Certain disabilities that you or hospital members  may not recognize, may create a risk.  Too, stroke victims who are with familiar people and in familiar surroundings may “snap back ” much like the arousal that a person experiences when they are awakened by smelling salts.  For a stroke victim, this may be a temporary or permanent awakening. By the same token, it’s important to note that stroke victims tend to manage life more easily and recovery may be enhanced when surrounded by people they know the most and items in their home that they are most accustomed to living with, even the pillow on their bed, their clothing,  and special treasures.

Interdisciplinary Specialist Team for Ongoing Management

Ultimately, neurologists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, internal medicine physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiatrists, psychologists, attorneys, family, spiritual support and an attorney may be required to fully manage the outcome of a stroke over the long term. Seeking the advise of a Fiduciary may be helpful  to evaluate the short and long term needs required from a medical and financial prospective.

Insurance, Medical and Long Term Care Policies

Medical insurance coverage varies, depending upon the limits, caps and exclusions in your policy. HMO insurance policies tend to be more restrictive in terms of offering strong support for ongoing rehabilitation needs, when compared to a select number of Preferred Provider Network (PPO) plan administrator policies. This is an important consideration given that the risk of stroke and serious disability is high over a lifetime and rehabilitation is an opportunity to enhance recovery and quality of life. To offset out-of-pocket costs, there are long term care insurance plans you may select from which is highly recommended by independent insurance representatives, given the health access climate.

Long term care policies vary in terms of the type of coverage, the ability to choose your own medical providers and caregivers; or the requirement to use their providers, when payments are made, as well as, coverage for costs in long term care facilities, such as assisted living and nursing homes.   Insurance is important when out-of-pockets due to lack of long term care insurance may escalate to $10,000 within two weeks of the stroke in serious cases if the stroke victim is located out of state and must be transported to a loved one for close monitoring.