Managing the Demands of Caregiving

Nothing can prepare stroke survivors and their families for the sudden, often catastrophic, nature of stroke.  If you are the family caregiver for someone who has had a stroke it may be difficult for you to manage alone.  The very nature of stroke causes a variety of impairments which can affect daily life, causing physical and emotional adjustments for most people.  Finding a way to manage these new roles and demands can help balance the rewards and stress of caregiving. It is important to ask for help so you do not put your own health and well being at risk.

In fact, statistics from the Family Caregiver Alliance indicate that 76% of family caregivers need respite of one kind or another.  Respite literally means a rest or break from the demands of caregiving. For example, respite can mean help with transportation, assistance with errands or meal preparation, in-home practical help that eases the daily workload, a few hours away from home to tend to personal needs, or simply a personal visit to lessen the isolation often experienced by stroke families. For many stroke survivors and family caregivers, respite may be a combination of all of these. Support is crucial, and allows stroke survivors and their families to stay focused on the recovery process.

Often times it is hard to ask others for help, or to know what to tell people who ask  “What can I do to help?”  To make asking for or receiving help easier, National Stroke Association has partnered with Lotsa Helping Hands to give family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and others an easy and immediate way to help as the stroke survivor and family adjust to the demands of stroke recovery.  Lotsa Helping Hands, is a free, personalized online tool offered through the National Stroke Association website to organize a community of family and friends who want to help.  With this private group Web calendar, people can see what help is needed and when, so everyone can pitch in to help make the recovery process run more smoothly. 

Visit Lotsa Helping Hands Now

Other Helpful Links
Recovery After Stroke Fact Sheets
HOPE: The Stroke Recovery Guide
National Family Caregiver Alliance
Internet Stroke Center
National Family Caregiver's Association

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