If a loved one has recently suffered a stroke, you may be wondering what types of rehabilitation and lifestyle changes are necessary to improve their quality of life.
One change that may be beneficial is the installation of a stairlift. A stairlift can help those affected by a stroke regain independence and mobility, and make it easier to get around the home.
What is a stroke?
A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. Damage to the brain can affect how the body works. It can also change how you think and feel.
The effects of a stroke depend on where it takes place in the brain, and how big the damaged area is.
Someone suffers from a stroke every five minutes in the UK. It can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time and is a leading cause of adult disability in the UK. Two-thirds of people who survive a stroke find themselves living with a disability.
Types of strokes
There are three common types of stroke:
- Ischaemic stroke – caused by a blockage cutting off blood to the brain. This is the most common type of stroke
- Haemorrhagic stroke – caused by a bleed in or around the brain
- Transient ischaemic attack or TIA – often called a ‘mini stroke’, it is the same as a normal stroke but the symptoms only last for a short time as the blockage that stops blood getting to the brain is only temporary
There is a wealth of useful information on the Stroke Association’s website.
What causes a stroke?
As we get older, our arteries become harder and narrower and thus more likely to become blocked. However, certain medical conditions and lifestyle factors can speed up this process and increase the risk of having a stroke.
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Whilst there are a variety of symptoms people experience when having a stroke, these are the 3 most common:
- Facial weakness – usually being unable to smile or a drooping face (typically affecting one side)
- Arm weakness – typically being unable to raise an arm(s)
- Speech problems – being unable to speak clearly
However, whilst less common, sufferers can also experience the following issues:
- Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including legs, hands or feet
- Difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences
- Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes
- Sudden memory loss or confusion, and dizziness or a sudden fall
- A sudden, severe headache
Life after a stroke
All strokes affect people differently; for some people the effects may be relatively minor and may not last long. Others may be left with more serious health issues that can be life-changing and make them dependent on other people.
The most common of these is the ability to get around their home independently and especially when trying to get up and down stairs and this is where a Stairlift (or Chair Lift as some people like to call them) can prove to be invaluable.
Quite recently, we installed a stairlift for a lady in Sheffield, to help her regain her independence so she could get upstairs to the bathroom and bedroom on her own. Her son was very worried that without our help, she would be at great risk of falling and as he lived some distance away, the whole family wanted a practical, long-term safe solution.
We were delighted to be able to help them both and so quickly arranged a free no obligation survey to discuss which model of stairlift would be best suited for her. Following the survey, we recommended a reconditioned Bison 180 curved stairlift and only 24 hours later we installed it for her.
The lift now allows his mum to get up and down stairs easily and safely which has put everyone’s mind at rest.
As the 5* Trustpilot review he sent us a few days later said, “The Stairlift has meant a new found freedom for mum whose health has improved remarkably now and Leodis and their staff have been a big part of this. The engineers who installed it were friendly, efficient, quick, and spotlessly tidy, a credit to their company.”
We have been installing high-quality stair lifts for over 30 years.
Our dedicated team of surveyors and expert engineers will always respond to your enquiry quickly, as we understand the urgency of having such a solution in place, following you or a family member having a stroke.
