“The last of the human freedoms—is to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
-Viktor E. Frankl
A stroke happens quickly. In the blink of an eye, life is changed forever.
Like a thief in the night, parts of the mind, body, and spirit are taken, robbed, stripped down—left vulnerable. But, how to wake up from this bad dream? How to start life anew?
The first steps of recovery must focus on development of positive support systems with family, friends, and caregivers who understand what you’re going through. And, this understanding starts with empathy. But, what is empathy? It’s to imagine a day in the life of another person—to walk in their shoes. To see the world from their perspective (Sharma and Clark, 2018). Specifically, to see the world of a stroke survivor as if it were your own.
Empathy allows trust, rapport, and understanding in time of need. And, when stroke survivors feel heard by family, friends, and caregivers, it’s much easier to choose a road toward recovery than to just give-up. And, to choose the correct road forward makes all the difference (Frost,1916).
But, to choose one’s own way and stay on the right path can feel like a long crooked road of bends, turns, potholes, and detours. But, the road toward recovery can also be filled with fresh insights, inner strength, and the “will” to keep stepping forward. So instead of standing in place, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step” (Lao Tzu). And, it’s in taking this first step that hopes and dreams come true.
The first steps of recovery are difficult to take and understand. But the 3-part runner’s prompt—“on your mark, get set, go”—helps.
On Your Mark—
Stroke survivors “on their mark” feel prepped even before daily living activities start. This confidence is similar to runners who have already practiced, trained, and qualified long before stepping up to the starting line.
Stroke survivors who regain quality of life must first relearn, practice, and train in strategies to overcome their limitations, despite physical or cognitive deficits (Burns and Neville, 2018). To relearn self-care with multiple impairments is extremely challenging. As such, daily planning, much compassion, and constant redirection is needed from caregivers. (Burns and Neville, 2018; Wisconsin Division of Health).
Get Set—
Stroke survivors who are “set” for takeoff are deliberately primed, conscientiously prepped, and properly pre-positioned for takeoff. This process is compared to runners who toe the line.
As such, stroke survivors who prep their toiletries before grooming and who lay out clothes before dressing are better set for takeoff than those who don’t.
Stroke survivors exert great effort performing self-care skills which is tiring, time consuming, and frustrating. Effective caregivers are patient, assist with preparation and set-up, and follow a consistent routine (Wisconsin Division of Health).
Go!—
Stroke survivors need a crystal clear vision of where they’re going, how to get there, and when they’ll arrive. This vision is compared to runners who use roadmaps as guides to the finish line. Stroke survivors with “person centered” plans of care have mutually agreed upon goals and objectives, measurable timeframes, and crystal clear visions of where they’re going, how to get there, and dates of arrival (Clarke and Prewitt, 2016).
A step-by-step itinerary helps survivors takeoff with purpose and conviction. Stroke survivors who are involved in the goal-making process tend to develop real-world, measurable, and achievable goals and go farther than those who don’t (Clarke and Prewitt, 2016).
Stroke survivors who cross the finish line do so with cheerleaders on the sidelines. Having family, friends, and caregivers cheering-on helps with morale and motivation (Wisconsin Division of Health). This African proverb says it all, “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!” To me, this translates into the following equation:
Stroke Survivors + Caregivers = A-Team!
Now, some simple self-care tips:
- Simple One Handed Meal Time Tips: (once eating is approved by physician)
-Rimmed plates or scoop shaped bowls on nonskid surfaces help to scoop up food. Dampened sponge cloths, silicone baking mats, or silicone trivets are examples of nonskid surfaces.
-Built-up utensils with enlarged handles help with grasp and can easily be made with cylindrical foam purchased from medical supply stores (Harvard Health Publication, 2015).
- Simple One Handed Grooming Tips:
-Items such as nail files and nail brushes can be purchased or adapted with suction cups or velcro. Also tape them down to the counter with low tack tape, such as painter’s tape or with a c-clamp or u-clamp which are convenient to use and easy to remove, reposition, or replace as needed.
-Tabletop or wall mounted mirrors eliminate standing and are accessible from bed, w/c, or armchair.
- Simple One Handed Bathing Tips:
-Bath mitts with cinch strap closures and liquid soap help maintain a secure grasp while washing hard to reach areas. Our beautiful Golden offers encouragement. To make one at home, see my post, “Bath Mitt—Right Fit—To Stay Fit.”
- Simple One-Handed Dressing Tips:
-Dress and undress the affected and weaker side first—it’s simpler!
-Shirts: Button down dress shirts can be adapted to velcro closure. See my post, “Adapt Button Down Shirts To Velcro Closure.”
-Pants: Loose fitting elastic waist pants slip on easier than button pants. Loops sewn into waistbands help to pull up pants. Button waistband pants can also be adapted to velcro closure, for more, see my blog post, “Adapt Button Waistband Pants To Velcro Closure.”
-Shoes: Regular shoe laces can be replaced with elastic shoe laces or slip-on style shoes. Our Golden Retriever, Shiloh is only a heartbeat away to help.
-Socks: One-Handed Sock Strategy takes a bit of practice but really works. Our beautiful Golden Retriever, Shenandoah, is always by our side giving comfort. Here’s how to do it:
Roll sock cuff down to the toe section of the sock. Bring thumb and first two fingers together to make a tripod. Slip sock opening over spread fingers. Then, slip rolled sock over and onto toes. Roll sock cuff out and up over ankle. Sounds, complicated but practice makes perfect, so try try again, and don’t give up.
-A long handled dressing stick helps to remove socks. To make one at home, see my blog post, “Get A Handle on Dressing—With A Long Handled Dressing Stick!”
- Simple One-Handed Leisure Tips:
-Incline boards or book holders eliminate holding and improve angle for reading.
-Playing Card Holders supports a deck of cards and put you back in the game! Playing cards are also available with enlarged print, as shown above, for any person with visual changes or for the visually challenged population.
These tips are just a few of many that exist and hopefully you’ve found them helpful and insightful. To recap, remember empathy helps caregivers better understand stroke survivors. A person-centered approach helps stroke survivors choose their best path of recovery. And together, stroke survivors and caregivers can cross the finish line together.
As a takeaway, I leave you with Robert Frost’s poem,
The Road Not Taken (AKA—The Road Less Travelled)—
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then to the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference!
If you found this post helpful or have any suggestions, please leave a comment or suggestion.
References
Burns, S. P., & Neville, M. (2018). Cognitive impairment in adults with stroke. OT Practice, 23(10), 8-13. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/2048046707?accountid=143111
Clarke, Lynne Anderson, OTD,M.S., O.T.R./L., & Prewitt, Rachel,M.O.T., O.T.R./L. (2016). Fostering health-related quality of life in community-based stroke survivors. OT Practice, 1(2), 14-16. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1895911220?accountid=143111
Frankl, V. E. (1984). Man’s Search For Meaning. Boston, MA: Washington Square Press.
Frost, R. (1916). The Road Not Taken. In Bain, C.E., Beaty, J., & Hunter, J. P. (Eds.), The Norton introduction to literature (4th ed., p. 819). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Hammond, M. (2000, June). Tech around the house. The Exceptional Parent, 30, 48-53. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/223490523?accountid=143111
Lao Tzu Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/lao_tzu_137141
Sharma, K. A., & Clark, A. J. (2018). Empathy matters: The importance of imagination in occupational therapy. OT Practice, 23(7), 18-20. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/2028116447?accountid=143111
Tools to make your life easier. (2015, 12). Harvard Health Publications.Harvard Health Letter. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1746598302?accountid=143111
Wisconsin Division of Health, Department of Health and Social Services (n.d.). Self-Care Activities for the hemiplegic patient. [Booklet]. Madison, WI: Author.
Leave a Reply