Most people need some support after a stroke. They often need more care in the early days, as the fastest period of recovery happens in the weeks and months immediately after a stroke.
The role of a carer
You might not want to call yourself a carer or care-giver, or even see yourself as one, and that’s fine. You’re still someone’s partner, loved one or friend doing what you can to help.
But it is important to be recognised as an unpaid carer so you can get the support you need.
According to Carers UK, a carer is someone who provides regular, unpaid help and support to a partner, relative or friend who cannot manage without this support. This person might be disabled, have an illness or long-term condition, or need extra help as they get older.
Levels of care
The support or care you give a stroke survivor can take many forms. It can include:
- Practical help with cooking, shopping or taking medication
- Emotional support, such as being there for them, listening to them or offering reassurance if they have lost confidence
- Communication support — helping someone speak, read or write
- Cognitive support — helping them to manage memory problems.
If you’re regularly taking time to give help and support to someone, whether it’s a few hours a week or full-time, you need to think about your own needs too. Check out our practical tips for looking after your own health and wellbeing.
More tips for caring for someone after a stroke
Many carers ask us how they can help the person they are caring for to recover. Here are some things you can do:
- Ask therapists if you can be involved in rehabilitation.
- Encourage the person to take on family responsibilities right from the start. You may need to find new roles that are manageable to help boost their confidence and maintain their relationships with other family members.
- Try not to be overprotective. It's natural to be cautious, but with advice from therapy professionals and the right equipment, someone with a stroke can regain independence. Encourage them to do as much as they can, right from the start.
- Be patient. Things can take longer after a stroke. They may be relearning some basic skills. Listening and replying can take them longer, and it might take longer to respond to a request to do something. Fatigue can make it harder for them to join in with activities. They may have lost confidence and be reluctant to try new things. Having vision loss could make them reluctant to go out. They might also seem uninterested in their old hobbies. These changes are due to stroke damage in the brain.
- Be positive. Recovering from a stroke is a slow process and so your praise is needed for every sign of progress, however small. Reassure the person that you are caring for that things can get better, especially when progress seems slow.
Carers also tell us they want to know how they can help prevent it from happening again. You can read our information on how to help reduce stroke risk. It includes encouraging the stroke survivor to take medications they’ve been prescribed, eat healthily and be more active.
Can we still do the things we used to enjoy?
Returning to hobbies and interests you shared before the stroke is important to many people. With support, it’s often possible to find new ways of doing things you enjoyed together, like going on holiday, or trying out new hobbies.
We also have information on driving after stroke, what the rules are and where to get individual advice.
Resources for carers
- We have additional advice on five steps you can take after someone you know has had a stroke.
- Both Carers UK and Carers Trust have a wealth of information, support and advice for unpaid carers.
- Mobilise is a charity which provides free online support for unpaid carers.
- Carer’s Card UK offers a card and app to help all unpaid carers to be recognised, supported and rewarded through discounts. Members can also access the wellbeing hub.
Our Stroke Support Helpline is here for you. Whether you need information, or to chat when times are tough, our friendly team is just a phone call or email away.
Simply call us on: 0303 3033 100
Email: helpline@stroke.org.uk
Carer FAQs
You’re entitled to find out what will be involved if you need to become someone’s main carer or take on more caring responsibilities.
You also have a right to be part of the hospital discharge process if you’re likely to be the main carer. You can contact the stroke team and request a meeting with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT). This will bring together all those involved in planning care for the stroke survivor. It’s a chance for you to ask questions and explain any concerns you have about being a carer. If you feel you need support with the process, you can ask to speak with a PALS (Patient Liaison and Advice) officer or contact our Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100 or email helpline@stroke.org.uk
If you feel that you can’t manage some of the things you’re being asked to do, or don’t wish to do any, you can say so. You don’t have to give reasons, but it’s a good idea to talk to the professionals involved. This can help them understand your needs as well as those of the person who had a stroke.
There may be a practical solution. For example, you might have a physical condition that makes it hard for you to lift someone. An adapted bathroom can help the person who had a stroke use the shower and toilet independently.
You should not be asked to provide care at the cost of your own health and wellbeing, such as back pain due to lifting, or being unable to go to your own medical appointments if you can’t leave the person alone.
You may live far away from the person who has had a stroke and may already have significant family and work commitments. If you live apart from the person you care for and can only provide occasional support, it’s important to make this clear to the professionals involved. That way, this can be taken into account while you are involved in planning their return from hospital.
It’s not unusual for people to be unpaid carers for each other, such as people who live together helping one another with taking medication or communication support. If the person who’s had a stroke was helping you manage a disability or health condition, you may find that you need some more support for yourself.
You can ask for a Carer’s Assessment to help make sure you receive the support you need with your caring role. You can also ask for a Care Needs Assessment for the stroke survivor and/or yourself, if either of you need more support to cope with day-to-day living. Find out more about both assessments and how to request them.
When you’re caring for someone, things often change over time. Your own needs may change, or you may feel unable to keep up with what’s involved with caring. The needs of the person you’re caring for may also change. They may begin to need more help or professional care, for example, in sheltered accommodation or residential care. We have information about choosing residential accommodation.
Social services should review your needs from time to time to see whether they have changed, but you can ask for a review of a care plan at any time. See our information on care assessments to learn more.