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Stroke Prognosis and Recovery

Read more about Stroke Prognosis and Recovery 
Stroke is a common ailment of the elderly. A stroke occurs when there is a blockage in the pathways leading to the brain. This can leave a patient severely disabled in a number of ways, including being incontinent.

The neurological pathways that control both bladder and bowel function can be seriously affected by a stroke. This can be permanent or temporary depending on the severity and the recovery rate of the patient. Studies indicate that the rate and amount of incontinence varies, but can be found to some degree in about 79% of stroke patients. This leaves caregivers with another serious condition to help their loved one manage as they recover from a stroke.

It is important to stress that there is no sound medical research about the link between incontinence and stroke recovery. Most patients do recover at least some (if not all), control of their bladder and bowels following a stroke. However, caregivers will need to take extra steps to manage the incontinence while the patient is recovering and completing rehabilitation from the stroke. 

There are several things that can be done:

Seek help- Caregivers often become overwhelmed by the demands of their loved one. It is difficult to care for a stroke patient, but when the recovery is coupled with incontinence it can become overwhelming. Caregivers should understand that there are resources available to them. Caregiverpartnership.com offers help to caregivers and provides advice, products, and other resources to more easily manage incontinence. They have recently been named one of the top 10 caregiver resources. Read more about The CareGiver Partnership.

Consult a medical professional-By talking to the patient’s doctor, the caregiver can better ascertain how severe the incontinence is, as well as if the incontinence is likely to be permanent or if it is simply a temporary condition. Many doctors can also provide guidance about choosing the right incontinence products to meet the needs of the patient.

Know your options-There has never before been more options in the market when it comes to incontinence products. There are various types of absorbent undergarments that range from boxers to adult diapers. Incontinence pads and guards which can be used on their own, or in addition to absorbent undergarments. There are bed pads used to protect bedding and furniture. As well as a wide variety of skin care products that can be used to cleanse and protect the delicate skin of an incontinent stroke patient.

Be prepared- Start finding the right incontinence products before the patient comes home. When the most effective incontinence products for their unique condition are used, the patient will be much more comfortable and protected. This means using the right product for their severity, but it also means having the needed products for protecting from possible skin irritation, as well as skin breakdown and infection. When incontinence supplies are used, bedding and other furniture will be protected from possible damage as well.

The wide variety and confusing descriptors of products can make choosing the right incontinence supplies challenging. The Caregiver Partnership can help. They offer a handy selection guide that will help you quickly and effectively select from over 500 products on their site. Visit the Incontinence Product Finder to get started. They offer an all female team of product specialists who have been or are presently caregivers. Simply call 800-985-1353 M-F 9-4 CST. And they offer over 100 different samples allowing you to try before you buy, to make sure you spend your incontinence dollars on the products you actually need.

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.

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