1. Health
2. When a Parent Has a Stroke

Stroke

• Checklist - 10 Questions to Ask After a Stroke

  10 Questions to Ask After a Stroke. Is there is a stroke recovery timeline? What is the prognosis after a stroke? Get answers to aide in recovery.

• Article - How to Tell if Your Parent Is Having a Stroke

  How to Tell if Your Parent Is Having a Stroke. 5 stroke symptoms to watch for and what to do if your parent shows symptoms of a stroke.

• Article - TIA: What You Should Know if Your Parent Is at Risk for a Stroke

  Understanding your parent's risk of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or ministroke, including the symptoms of a TIA and what you should do if your parent has a stroke or a ministroke.

• Article - What to Do When Your Parent Experiences Depression After a Stroke

  Understanding the emotional aftermath of a stroke, including the warning signs of depression and what you can do to help your parent.

• Checklist - 10 Ways You Can Help Your Parents Prevent a Stroke

  Stroke prevention: 10 ways you can help prevent a stroke. These stroke prevention strategies will help your parents reduce their risk of a stroke.

• Article - Making the Most of Your Parent's Stroke Rehabilitation Team

  When your parent has a stroke, you can aid in his recovery...

• Article - How Much Care Will Your Parent Need After a Stroke?

  How to assess how much care and help your parent will need after a stroke.

• Article - Making Your Parent's Bathroom Safer After a Stroke

  A bathroom can be dangerous for someone who's had a stroke. Here's how to help your elderly parent bathe, groom, and use the toilet safely.

• Article - Making Your Parent's Home Safer After a Stroke

  Tips and resources for making your elderly parent's home safe after a stroke, whether he’s partially paralyzed, in a wheelchair, or uses a walker.

• Article - Preparing for a Stroke Emergency: What You Should Know If Your Parent Is At Risk

  Is your parent at risk for a stroke? This practical guide will help you prepare for a stroke emergency.

• Article - Making Your Parent's Stairways Safer After a Stroke

  When your elderly parent has had a stroke, here's how to make the stairs -- both inside and out -- as safe as possible.

• Article - Making Your Parent's Kitchen Safer After a Stroke

  Practical tips and resources to make your elderly parent's kitchen safe after a stroke. Plus, how to modify the kitchen for someone in a wheelchair.

• Article - Making Your Parent's Bedroom Safer After a Stroke

  How to make your elderly parent's bedroom safe and comfortable after a stroke. Plus, how to help him keep as much privacy and autonomy as possible.

• Article - How to Care for a Parent With Fecal Incontinence

  Fecal or bowel incontinence can be caused by Alzheimer's, stroke, Parkinson's and other diseases that strike the elderly. Learn how you can help.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Wanted: Companionship for a Dad with Diabetes

  How to find senior companionship for your aging and ailing parent.

• Blog Post - Stroke Awareness Month: Stroke Heroes and Their Stories

  A roundup of personal blogs about stroke.

• Blog Post - Could You Have Diabetes -- And Not Know It?

  Find out if you're at risk for type 2 diabetes by taking the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Risk Test.

• Blog Post - Music Hits the Right Note for Stroke Patients

  New research shows that listening to music for a couple of hours a day can help patients recover from stroke.

• Blog Post - Heartburn or Heart Attack? Women May Miss the Signs

  Women often attribute heart attack symptoms to indigestion, stress, and fatigue. Here's a list of the less typical signs of heart attack.

• Blog Post - Will You Act F.A.S.T. or Give Me 5 For Stroke?

  Controversy about which campaign for remembering stroke symptoms is better, Act F.A.S.T. or Give Me 5 for Stroke.

• Blog Post - How to Keep Stroke Patients From Taking a Tumble

  New research shows that stroke patients fall almost twice as often as those who haven't had a stroke.

• Blog Post - In Case of Stroke, Better Call a Neurologist

  New research suggests that stroke patients treated by neurologists have better outcomes.

• Blog Post - Memory Trouble? Don't Assume It's Alzheimer's

  Memory loss isn't always Alzheimer's: a review of types of memory loss

• Blog Post - Vascular Dementia Resources for Caregivers

  Vascular dementia is the second leading cause of dementia in the US. Here's a list of blogs and resources for vascular dementia caregivers.

• Blog Post - My mother has asked not to be resuscitated if she has a medical crisis, but my siblings disagree on what constitutes a medical crisis.

  Before she showed signs of dementia, my mother decided...

• Blog Post - Caregiving: Does it Have to Be This Hard?

  A summary of caregiving in the U.S. in 2008: some statistics and how it got this way

• Blog Post - You're Not Imagining It: More People Have Alzheimer's

  Alzheimer's disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in the US.

• Blog Post - Yelling and Nagging: Not the Way to Keep Someone With Diabetes on Track

  Practical advice on how to help your parent or partner with diabetes comply with health recommendations.

• Blog Post - Should All Stroke Patients Take Antidepressants?

  Should all stroke patients take antidepressants? New research shows antidepressants may prevent depression after a stroke.

• Blog Post - A Drug for the Bones Causes Risk to the Heart

  New research shows that the osteoporosis drug Fosamax nearly doubles the risk of atrial fibrillation.

• Blog Post - Getting to the Heart of Recent Diabetes Findings

  Making sense of three type 2 diabetes studies, known as ACCORD. ADVANCE, and the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial, intense glucose control, and heart trouble.

• Blog Post - After a Stroke: When Words Fail Us

  Creative ways to communicate with someone who has trouble speaking or understanding language.

• Blog Post - Dementia Caregivers: Ready to Make Your Brain a Promise?

  Scary new statistics about Alzheimer's disease and dementia are a wake-up call to caregivers to take better care of themselves.

• Blog Post - Exciting News For Heart and Stroke Patients

  Two-drug combination blood pressure therapy lowers cardiovascular risk in patients with high blood pressure.

• Blog Post - Help Seniors Beat the Dangers of Summer Heat

  Tips for helping your parents avoid the risks of summer heat.

• Blog Post - Macular Degeneration: All Eyes Are on Hormone Therapy

  New research shows that taking hormones cuts a woman's risk of macular degeneration in half. But hormone therapy raises the risk for other health conditions.

Questions & Answers

• Question - How can I tell whether my father's incontinence after his stroke is temporary?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Could the girdling sensation below my father's chest be the result of his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What can be done about excessive sleepiness after a stroke?

  Advice on how to deal with excessive sleepiness six months after a stroke.

• Question - Could my dad's stroke be causing the sensations of cold on his left side?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help get my father's sleep schedule back on track after his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I encourage my father to use his left side after his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why has my mother-in-law become so irresponsible with her money since her stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why are my mother's hand and arm swollen after her stroke?

  My mom had a mild stroke. She's been complaining of pain and I noticed that her hand and forearm are swollen. Are swollen hands and arms normal?

• Question - Why are my father's abilities improving and then regressing since his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why is my mother so angry and abusive after her stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Since her stroke, why has my mother been complaining of a metallic taste in her mouth?

  A metallic taste after a stroke can cut a patient's appetite. It's important to find out whether the metallic taste is from the stroke or medications.

• Question - What's the risk of general anesthesia for my mother post-stroke?

  Expert knowledge to help you understand the risks of general anesthesia after your parent has had a stroke.

• Question - What's the best way to deal with my dad's incontinence after his stroke?

  Some tips on helping your parent deal with incontinence following a stroke.

• Question - Are there government benefits for someone who's had a stroke and gets only a small company pension?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Do you have any healthy recipe suggestions for a stroke patient?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Is there anything that will help relieve my dad's pain after his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do you deal with aphasia?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - How should we deal with my dad's anxiety attacks after his stroke?

  If a parent feels anxiety after a stroke, is this normal? Or are panic attacks or anxiety after a stroke something that requires therapy or drugs?

• Question - How can I help my kids understand their grandfather's aphasia after his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How long will it take for my uncle to regain speech abilities?

  How long does speech take to come back after a stroke? Speech recovery varies, but most recovery takes place in the first two years after a stroke.

• Question - Is it common for a stroke survivor to be less tolerant of heat?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can a head injury cause a stroke?

  Can a head injury cause a stroke? Is a stroke caused by a head injury from a fall different from a regular stroke and how does the doctor treat it?

• Question - What can I do to encourage my father to work on recovering from his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can a TIA have residual effects?

  An expert's perspective on the damage that can follow a transient ischemic attack.

• Question - How can I encourage my mother to be more independent after her stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Could my mother have Alzheimer's, rather than dementia?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - My husband suffered a stroke and still sometimes feels a burning sensation in his head. Why?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Isn't there a simple set of stroke symptoms I can remember?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I be sure that my mother's headaches aren't really ministrokes, or TIAs?

  If a parent often has a headache after a stroke, what does it mean? Is it a TIA (transient ischemic attack), or are headaches after a stroke common?

• Question - What is the long term prognosis for a 58 year old man who had a TIA and clot buster with nearly full recovery?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I help my mother get over or cope with her fear of falling?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What can I do to encourage my dad to wear his emergency response device?

  This question has been answered by two Caring.com Experts

• Question - What can I expect--regarding my Dad in moving from a nursing...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Should my father be taking aspirin now that he's been diagnosed with heart disease?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I help my anxious mother sleep better?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Do my parents need to get divorced to qualify for Medicaid?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Should my dad, who’s scheduled to have an operation unrelated to his diabetes, keep up his normal diabetes routine?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Could you please give me suggestions on how to treat pressure sores?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is my mother's "racing heart" normal after a bypass?

  After a bypass, is a racing heart normal? A racing heart after a bypass or heart surgery--possibly atrial fibrillation--requires medical attention.

• Question - Is one of the side effects of chemo a tendency to fall down?...

  When someone is weak from chemo, is falling a side effect? Do falls from chemo treatment caused by numbness or weakness require medical attention?

• Question - Can I be held responsible for my mother's medical bills?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why do elderly women contract numerous urinary tract infections?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Now that my mom is in a nursing home, how can I make the most of my one-hour visits with her?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My father has had a stroke and has no will. How do I ensure his things are taken care of?

  A parent who wishes to make a will may be able to do so, even after suffering a stroke.

• Question - How can I help my elderly father use a bedpan?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will Medicaid or Medicare help pay for my mother's long-term care?

  Will Medicaid or Medicare help pay for my mother's long term care? Medicare will cover 100 days in a nursing home if certain qualifications are met.

• Question - Exactly which chemotherapy drugs are cardiotoxic?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I help my mom deal with high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol?

  Along with high blood sugar, someone with diabetes might also have high blood pressure and cholesterol. But she can reduce all three the same way.

• Question - What is the best way to gauge how much exercise is too much?...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Is type 2 diabetes less serious than type 1?

  My mom, just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, keeps it under control without taking insulin. So is type 2 diabetes less of a problem than insulin-dependent type 1?

• Question - What's the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship?

  What's the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship? I want to know because my elderly parent refuses to sign a power of attorney.

• Question - Will my stepmother be financially responsible for my dad's care once his insurance money runs out?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Should I take my 80-something parents with me to check out assisted living facilities for them or go alone?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - How do you deal with a parent that is unable to communicate?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Do we tell my grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimers, about a death in the family?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I set up a conservatorship for my mother?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why doesn't my mother's doctor want to perform a red blood cell transfusion, just because she's never had one before?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What happens to a single person's house when leaving it for a nursing home?

  If Medicaid will be paying nursing home bills for a single person, the person's house must be used to reimburse Medicaid.

• Question - Do we need a court order for the bank stating my mother is unable to handle her financial affairs any longer?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What can I get for my husband to drink , when nothing stays down?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Could my father's loud snoring be caused by a medical problem?

  Loud snoring may indicate a medical problem like sleep apnea. Loud snoring could also be caused by obesity, alcohol, smoking, and medications.

• Question - My dad eats lots of sweets and doesn't like to drink water--could he have diabetes?

  Find out if a sweet tooth or a lack of thirst are symptoms for type 2 diabetes.

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - A Timely Reminder for Stroke Survivors

  If your parent has had a stroke, is he neglecting his...

• Tip - React FAST to a Possible Stroke

  If you think your parent may have had a stroke, act F...

• Tip - Alleviate the Pain of Claw Toe

  One of the more painful complications of stroke is...

• Reflection - What I Wish I'd Known: Dudley Clendinen

  Dudley Clendinen, author of A Place Called Canterbury: Tales of the New Old Age in America, on communicating with his mother after her stroke.

• Tip - Managing Zippers After a Stroke

  Simple daily tasks like zipping and unzipping your...

• Tip - Protect Floors and Carpets From Food Spills

  Mealtimes can be frustrating for both stroke survivors...

• Tip - Curly Elastic Shoelaces Make "Tying" Shoes a Snap

  If your parent has had a stroke, tying her own shoes...