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Stroke

Your guide to understanding stroke, its warning signs, eligibility for NDIS funding post stroke, and more.

A support guide to daily living activities for stroke patients
Having a stroke can impact your daily life in lots of ways – physically, cognitively and emotionally, but there is help available as you recover. Access to allied health professionals like occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and speech pathologists can get you back to doing daily tasks and feeling more independent. Qualified therapists can be found on the Mable platform, as well as disability and care support workers, that can help you at home, support your rehabilitation, and keep you connected to your community. What are Activities of Daily Living? Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are the essential, routine tasks that people perform everyday to maintain their health and wellbeing. These fundamental skills include eating, bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, and moving around our homes. When someone experiences difficulties with ADLs, it may lead to reduced independence and a lower quality of life. In addition to ADLs, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (
Exercise and stroke: The benefits of physical activity for stroke patients
Having a stroke may impact how you sit, move, balance and stand, making it difficult to perform the everyday activities you want to do. If you've had a stroke, exercising can help improve your general health and, importantly, reduce your risk of having another one. Exercise also has benefits for your cognitive function and emotional wellbeing. Despite these benefits, it can be hard to get enough exercise when recovering from a stroke because of restricted mobility, fatigue and a lack of guidance. A qualified physiotherapist can help assess the impact of a stroke, and work with you on a rehabilitation program so you can reach your goals. To help you in your recovery, independent support workers on Mable include qualified allied health professionals , and disability and care support workers to help you implement and maintain exercise routines. Why exercise is important for stroke recovery After a stroke , exercise can help to bring back movement, increase your fitness levels and allow
Financial support for stroke victims in Australia: NDIS and aged care funding
More than 445,087 Australians are living with the effects of stroke. Despite stroke being a cause of disability in Australia, only 1.4% (5,935) of active NDIS participants have stroke as their primary disability. Getting government assistance for stroke victims Aged care funding eligibility for stroke If the person is over 65, they may be eligible for aged care funding. Aged care support at home can be accessed through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or a Home Care Package . You may be eligible for a Home Care Package if you are 65 years or older (50 years or older if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander), are living at home, and need assistance to do the things you used to be able to do yourself. Aged care funding assessment for stroke support The Assessment Eligibility Checker on the My Aged Care website is a handy tool to check if you're eligible for a Home Care Package assessment. Once it's clear that you are eligible, an ACAT assessment will
How to prevent stroke: Tips to reduce your risk
Understanding the causes and warning signs of stroke A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. When that happens, brain cells can be deprived of oxygen, potentially causing permanent damage. The three most common types of strokes are Ischaemic, Hemorrhagic, and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). Learn more about the types of stroke . A stroke can occur at any time and can be caused by a range of factors such as age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and lifestyle habits. How to quickly test for a stroke Strokes can present differently from person to person; however, you can use the stroke memory prompt F.A.S.T. to identify common indicators. Face – watch for facial drooping on one side or an inability to smile. Arms – check for numbness on one side or problems lifting one or both arms. Speech – listen for slurring, problems forming or understanding words, or a general sense of confusion. Time – act fast to minimise dam
How to treat a stroke: What to do when someone has a stroke
How to help someone having a stroke When it comes to strokes, every second counts. You can potentially save someone's life and help limit harm to their brain by understanding what stroke is and what the warning signs of stroke look like . What to do if someone is having a stroke Use the F.A.S.T. assessment to identify signs of a stroke If you're concerned that someone is experiencing a stroke, look out for the F.A.S.T assessment signs: Face – watch for facial drooping on one side or an inability to smile. Arms – check for numbness on one side or problems lifting one or both arms. Speech – listen for slurring, problems forming or understanding words, or a general sense of confusion. Time – act fast to minimise damage. If you recognise any of the above signs, call Triple Zero (000) and stay calm. Do not drive to the hospital yourself, as first responders can start life-saving treatment on arrival and select the best hospital for the person's condition. How to effectively communi
Occupational therapy for stroke: How OT can help with stroke recovery
When you're recovering from a stroke, occupational therapy (OT) can play a key role in your rehabilitation by helping to regain independence and improve quality of life. You can find qualified occupational therapists on the Mable platform, as well as support workers who can help you implement occupational therapy strategies like rehab exercises and practicing modifications. How occupational therapy helps stroke patients Occupational therapy is a diverse area, taking a whole person approach to work with someone to achieve their best health and wellbeing through participation in everyday activities. As part of a multidisciplinary care team, occupational therapists can help people with physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing challenges after a stroke. Learn more about the role of occupational therapists . How does a stroke affect a person? After a stroke , you may experience weakness and mobility challenges and cognitive difficulties like memory loss. You may also experience a diff
Stroke symptoms: What are the warning signs of stroke?
Understanding a stroke and its symptoms A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. When that happens, brain cells can be deprived of oxygen, potentially causing permanent damage. Learn more about types of stroke . 27,428 Australians had their first stroke in 2020 , which is roughly one every 19 minutes. Yet despite how common they are, many people aren't familiar with stroke warning signs or how to know if you're having a stroke. When it comes to stroke, time is of the essence, so making sure you are equipped to recognise and respond rapidly is vital. How to know if someone is having a stroke While stroke presents differently from person to person, there are some common indicators represented by the stroke memory-prompt F.A.S.T. Stroke Assessment: Act F.A.S.T. Face – watch for facial drooping on one side or an inability to smile. Arms – check for numbness on one side or problems lifting one or both arms. Speech – listen for slurring
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. When that happens, brain cells can be deprived of oxygen, potentially causing permanent damage. The impact stroke has on cognition, speech, and movement will depend on which areas of the brain have been affected and for how long. The sooner treatment is undertaken, the greater the chance of limiting impairment. Types of stroke There are 3 main types of stroke : Ischemic, haemorrhagic, and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) or ‘mini-stroke'. There are also cryptogenic strokes and brainstem strokes. Strokes can also be recurrent, and these are usually ischemic strokes. Ischemic stroke This is the most common kind of stroke. It's caused by a blockage in the artery supplying blood to the brain. Haemorrhagic stroke This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel leaks or bursts and blood flows into or around the brain, preventing oxygen from reaching surrounding brain cells. The 2 sub-types of hae