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Elder CareTips:
Mastering The Eldercare Maze™
March 15,
2005
Would you know the signs that someone is having, or has had,
a stroke? The sooner a person gets treatment, the better
chance there is of recovery. "Clot-busting" drugs need to be
administered within only a few hours of a stroke event to be
effective. Time is of the essence with stroke.
Doctors are saying that non-medical individuals can
recognize a possible stroke by asking the person they are
concerned about to do three simple things:
1. Ask the person to smile;
2. Ask the person to raise both arms and hold them up;
3. Ask the person to say a simple sentence.
If the individual has trouble with any of these actions,
call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the
operator.
The
American Heart Association has more information on the
research behind these recommendations.
The life you save may be that of someone you love.
Progress might have been all right once, but it's gone
on too long.
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The Creator didn't include handles or grab bars on people.
When we're trying to assist someone with getting up from a
chair, or we're trying to walk with someone whose balance
isn't good, a reliable handle would do wonders for both our
backs and the safety of the person we're helping. Lifting
under the shoulders is bad for everyone. Belt loops break at
the most inconvenient times. There's the very real risk that
the person we want to help may bring us down, too, if
there's a bad fall.
One possible answer is a gait belt. These are the soft woven
belts you see physical therapists and nurses put around the
waist of a patient they want to safely assist. The gait belt
gives you something sturdy and safe to hold on to. If it's
loose enough to put two fingers behind (no looser) the
"patient" can wear it all day without discomfort.
This is one piece of equipment that's not expensive. You can
get increased safety for both you and your loved one for
around ten dollars - a real bargain these days. Gait belts
are available at most any medical supply store.
| Formerly, when religion was strong
and science weak, men mistook magic for medicine; now,
when science is strong and religion weak, men mistake
medicine for magic.
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