Support at home
Family and friends can help in many ways. For example, they can:
- help practise exercises between therapy sessions;
- give emotional support and keep the person motivated towards long-term goals;
- adapt to the person’s needs, for example, speaking more slowly and using gestures if they have communication problems; and
- learn techniques for dealing with difficult situations, such as how to help the person get up if they have a fall.
Tips for carers
- Be patient. Rehabilitation is a slow and often frustrating process. Don’t worry if there are days when little progress seems to be made.
- Be positive. Constant encouragement and praise are needed to keep up everyone’s spirits.
- Get the right balance between helping and encouraging the person to gain independence and confidence by doing things for themselves.
- Set a daily routine that everyone can stick to. Build in short but regular periods in the day to practise exercises and learn skills.
- Make time for yourself. Seeing your own friends and having your own hobbies is an important way to keep up your strength and patience.
Links
Audio version - Coping (996 kb)
Brain attack
Recovery and rehabilitation
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Speech and language therapy
Swallowing
Vision
Using the toilet
Psychological changes
Helping rehabilitation
Rehabilitation in the community
