The first fortnight home
Fatigue after a stroke is profound and frequently underestimated by everyone including the person themselves. Plan for far less activity than the discharge letter might suggest, and build in rest before it is needed.
Make sure the community stroke or rehabilitation team has actually been in touch. If nothing has arrived within a week, chase it — services vary considerably by area.
A structure that supports rehab
- Exercises at the same two points each day, prescribed by the physiotherapist, not invented at home.
- Meals and fluids at fixed times, particularly where swallowing has been affected and a plan is in place.
- One short outing or visitor a day, kept brief.
- A proper rest in the afternoon, planned rather than collapsed into.
- A record of what was managed, which helps enormously at review appointments.
Communication changes
Where speech or comprehension is affected, written prompts can be easier than spoken ones — or the reverse, depending on the person. Ask the speech and language therapist which way round works, then keep every message short and in the same format.
Consistency of wording matters more here than almost anywhere else.
Where reminders fit
You Care Reminders can carry the timing of exercises, meals, drinks and appointments so the family is not the one nagging. It is not clinical software and it must not be used for medication — that stays with the pharmacy and the care plan.