Caregivers and family

Being a Carer – what does this mean for me?

A carer can provide physical, practical or emotional help to someone after their stroke.

Carers can be family members or friends. If the person affected by stroke agrees, you can be involved by:

•    Talking to health professionals about assessments and test results
•    Helping to set goals and being involved in treatment decisions
•    Joining in with therapy sessions
•    Encouraging them to practice exercises and activities suggested by the therapists
•    Helping to celebrate their progress
•    Using a communication book to help them remember things. This can be things like who has visited, which therapists they have seen, what they said, and exercises to practice.
•    Helping with discharge planning
•    Remember don’t forget your own needs as a carer.

As a carer, you should be provided with information and training. This should happen at all stages of the recovery process. This may include information about the stroke, its treatment, and ways to prevent another stroke.

If needed, you should also receive ‘hands on’ training from different members of the stroke team. This should happen before the person you are helping to care for returns home.  It is also important that you have the opportunity to talk to someone about the impact of the stroke on you.

Before your family member/friend leaves hospital, it is vital that you are given contact details for someone that you can call if you have any questions. Finally, as a carer, it is important that you have the opportunity for time away from your caring responsibilities.