Acquired Brain Injury from Stroke
For the brain to function well, it requires a constant flow of blood to run through it. The blood supplies the brain with oxygen and nutrients. A stroke occurs when there is a disruption to the flow of blood throughout the brain.
There are 2 types of strokes that can occur:
- A blood vessel in the brain is blocked by a clot meaning that a specific area of the brain misses out on oxygen (ischemic stroke). This is the most common type of stroke.
- A wall of the blood vessel breaks and the blood leaks from the vessel into the brain and damages that area (hemorrhagic stroke)
A stroke can affect someone in different ways and depends on where the stroke occurred in the brain and how big the stroke was.
Some of the common challenges people face after stroke include:
- Difficulty speaking, reading, writing, and understanding others.
- Trouble swallowing
- Difficulty walking and balance
- Fatigue
- Visual difficulties
- Difficulty with arm movement
- Trouble getting to the toilet in time
- Difficulty with thinking skills, memory and social skills
- Difficulty managing emotions and experiencing depression
- Difficulty managing day to day activities such as showering, dressing, shopping, working and driving
How do we work with/support people after stroke?
We support people with a stroke by providing an individualized approach to help them meet their goals. This is most effective when all the therapists work closely together with the individual (inter-disciplinary framework). We work closely with the individual and their supports to build understanding, self-management strategies, improve daily functioning and independence. This may include helping them to adjust to the changes and find new purpose and meaning in life.
The team may include:
You can find more information on Stroke at this websites: