Ministroke can be an indicator that a senior has a high risk for having a stroke. According to research done about TIAs and strokes around 18% of seniors who have a TIA will have a full-blown stroke within 3 months.
TIAs typically don’t involve pain, just pressure and a sensation like that of being underwater. Because they aren’t usually painful seniors and their families could miss the signs of a TIA. If your senior loved one has home care, that make it easier for them to get care immediately if they do have a TIA. Home care providers are taught to recognize the symptoms of a TIA and you should know them too. Just remember the acronym FAST:
The face drooping that a senior experiences during a TIA is similar to the face drooping that happens during a full-blown stroke. One side of the face will droop suddenly or look out of balance and proportion. If you notice that your senior loved one’s face looks like one side is drooping don’t second guess your instincts and get help for them immediately.
Arm weakness may be complete inability to use the arm, a loss of some strength in the arm, or just a slight feeling of weakness. Your senior loved one may think that they are having a heart attack but if there is arm weakness with the other symptoms of a TIA then it’s probably not a heart attack. Either way it’s a good idea to get medical care for your senior parent right away.
If your senior parent suddenly starts slurring their words or tries to speak but can’t, that’s a red flag that you need to take seriously. Ask your senior loved one to say their name or repeat what they just said and listen closely to their speech. Call for help immediately if this is the case.
Never wait to call for help for your senior loved one if you think they are having a TIA. Although TIAs are usually not fatal, it’s very important that your senior parent sees a doctor. Sometimes the warning signs of a stroke are so mild that seniors don’t realize they’re having them. But if they have a TIA that is a clear indication that they could experience a stroke.
TIAs can result in injuries or deficiencies that will take months to recover from. This is why one of the reasons why it’s so important that seniors get medical care as fast as possible if they’re having a TIA.
Sources:
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STR.0000000000000418
https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke/tia-transient-ischemic-attack
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/transient-ischemic-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20355679
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Parker, CO, contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts At Home Denver Metro today. Call 303-632-8786
Touching Hearts At Home Denver Metro is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Aurora, Parker, Centennial, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Greenwood Village, Castle Rock, Glendale, and the surrounding areas.
Touching Hearts at Home, a distinguished provider of home care and private nursing services in the Denver Metro area, is…
Caring for an aging parent is a profound responsibility, one that often comes with difficult decisions. As our loved ones…
Often when seniors start to experience changes in their health, they don’t go to a doctor. They just assume that…
Summer is many people’s favorite time of the year because the sun is out for longer, the air is fresh…
July is Social Wellness Month and it’s a fantastic time for seniors to focus on their social life and how…
Your mom is getting older and has health conditions that may be common in old age, but they also limit…
June is National Adopt A Cat Month and it’s a great time for seniors to think about bringing a new…
Dementia affects millions of people every year. It causes memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and more while robbing families of the…
Twenty-five percent of U.S. adults have two or more chronic health conditions, and 60% have at least one. As your…
Older adults are more likely to have at least one chronic health condition and take medications to keep it from…