Stroke Care

Expert Stroke Care From The Live-In Care Specialists

We know through our experience that a stroke can have an overwhelming effect on a person’s ability to live life as they had, impacting their overall quality of life. At BlueBell Healtcare, we have helped thousands of people to recover and rehabilitate following a stroke with our one-to-one, tailored care provided by a dedicated and expert carer.

With our fully managed live in care service, families have reassurance at the time they need it most. Our after stroke care at home is trusted by families across Oxfordshire and beyond to really make a difference to a person recovering from a stroke, enabling them to live with freedom, independence and confidence.

What Are the Signs of a Stroke?

It is important to recognise the signs of a stroke fast. There is an easy way of remembering the signs that someone may be experiencing a stroke and requires help. It is important that you act FAST:
Face – has their face dropped to one side
Arms – are they able to lift their arms
Speech – are they able to speak or is their speech now slurred
Time – it is time to call 999

What to Do If Someone Is Having a Stroke?

If someone is having a stroke it is important to act fast. Responding quickly and getting them the medical attention they need can save your loved ones life and potentially reduce the potential long-term effects.

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is restricted or stopped, causing brain cells to die. The effects of a stroke can be a disability, brain injury and possibly even death.

Experiencing a stroke is serious and life-threatening. But the long and short term damage can be reduced if you seek medical treatment urgently.

The Home You Love Is Best for Stroke Care

Many families in Oxfordshire, and throughout the country believe the only choice they have when a family member or loved one needs care is that they must leave their much-loved home and move into a care home. This is just not true.

The Live in Care Hub conducted a survey in 2017 and found that 97% of people given the choice, would prefer to carry on living in their own home with the support of a carer. Live in care is becoming better understood and popular as a real alternative to moving into a residential setting. With live in care provided by BlueBell Healtcare, you can be assured of a high-quality live in care service provided by a trusted and established provider – a service that has benefitted many families for many years.

There are countless life-enriching benefits to staying at home with a highly trained and experienced carer who is dedicated to you, instead of facing the upset and worry of moving into a care or nursing home. With an BlueBell Healtcare carer, you will be able to live life your way with a tailored plan of care delivered by a compassionate carer on a one-to-one basis – this just simply cannot be offered in a care home.

Life in a care home can be very restrictive – you will have little choice as to when you get up, when you eat your meals and when you can have visitors and socialise. It is very different with live in care. We have helped our clients to continue to live with freedom and choice which means they can lead a better quality of life with all the support they need.

Specialist After Stroke Care at Home Provided by Trained and Experienced Carers

Our specialist stroke aftercare at home is founded on an expert approach to care delivery. All our dedicated carers are trained in how to care for someone who is recovering from a stroke and use a range of best practice techniques developed by experts in the field of stroke care.

Our gentle and compassionate carers are flexible and recognise the new limitations you may be living with and will facilitate you to rebuild key life skills. We also understand that those who are recovering from a stroke may have mobility concerns, as well as emotional, social and psychological needs that need to be responded to so that overall well-being is maintained.

We are able to support after a stroke in the following areas

assisting with mobility
continence care
managing and administering medication
household tasks
transport
shopping

Our Live-In Stroke Care Service

An BlueBell Healtcare’ experienced and dedicated carer will provide a range of live in stroke care services in the comfort of your home including:

A multidisciplinary approach

As an established live in care provider in Oxford, we have built strong relationships with local healthcare professionals, including GPs, district nurses, local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and other charitable organisations and community healthcare services. This means we can provide a multidisciplinary approach to dementia care that is focused on improving health and well-being whilst avoiding any unnecessary hospital admissions.

Compassionate companionship

We know how important companionship in later life. Our compassionate and respectful carer will be matched to not only meet your dementia care needs, but we look to match personalities and interests. We know this makes for a fulfilling and pleasurable way of life based on friendship and companionship. Whilst respecting your privacy, our carer is trained to support your psychological and emotional needs too.

Trained carers accurately manage medications

Our carers are trained in management of medications, which is so important in supporting someone living with dementia. They will proactively monitor and administer medications, ensuring they are effectively managed and any prescription required is ready as and when you need it. Peace of mind for everyone.

Sensitive personal care

Whilst personal care relates to undertaking the day-to-day tasks of caring, including washing, bathing and getting dressed and undressed, it also considers a person’s confidence and self-esteem. There is nothing better than having freshly painted nails, or your hair styled how you like it – our carers will make sure you feel your best every day.

Safe movement in and around your home

Oxford Aunts carers have a strong understanding of falls prevention and how conditions can impact on mobility. In conjunction with our experienced Care Assessors, and liaison with multidisciplinary teams, such as Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, we can ensure you receive the correct equipment at home. This will be life enriching and enable you to feel safe and secure when moving around your home.

Food planned and cooked as you wish

Your live-in carer will carefully plan all your meals and will shop for the groceries as needed. They will then cook healthy, nutritious and enjoyable food according to your likes and dislikes. Many of our clients and carers enjoy cooking together as a shared pastime. Unlike a care home, you will be able to eat as and when you like.

Keeping you connected to your community

At Blue Bell we know how important it is that you keep connected to your local community – whether it is a local community group you have attended for years, a stroll around a much-loved shop or sitting peacefully in a local park – our committed carers will facilitate your enjoyment outside of the home and support you to do as much as you wish.

Socialisation is key to health and happiness

With isolation a concern as we get older, our proactive carers will facilitate you having visitors as and when you wish. Whether it is a catch up with friends, or a family occasion or celebration our carer will meet all your socialisation needs so you can enjoy life at home.

Domestic and household services

Our carer will make sure your home is clean, tidy and well-kept to the standards you should expect. Everything from dusting, cleaning, vacuuming, washing and ironing to light garden work – our carer will ensure your home is looking its very best every day.

Pet care

When Can Live-In Stroke Recovery Care Be Used?

The flexible home care for stroke patients provided by BlueBell Healtcare can be used in many different situations to support your care needs including:

When a person needs 24-hour live in care and support to remain safe at home and continue to have a good quality of life.
A respite service can be provided on a live in basis to support a family carer having a much-needed break to rest and recharge. Our respite stroke care service can give you the break you need, whilst you see whether 24-hour live in care would work for you and your family.
If you need end-of-life palliative care this can also be provided as a live in care service in the comfort of your home, negating the need to move into a residential setting. Our carers make sure a person’s health needs are met whilst ensuring they have all their wishes, choices and preferences met.
Care for couples, so you can stay together as a loving couple with the personalised support they need and ensure you both have a good quality of life.

Our High-Quality Stroke Care Service Includes:

A comprehensive assessment of your needs – our assessment will address not just your care needs but how you wish to live your life
Careful matching of an experienced and dedicated carer who will meet all your needs
A highly tailored care plan created using a multidisciplinary approach in consultation with other healthcare professionals and community organisations involved in your care, as well as where appropriate your family members or loved ones
Unrivalled support from a team of two care managements experts local to you
Domestic and household tasks
Cookingmeal planning, shopping and preparation
24-hours a day out-of-hours emergency support should you need it

Why choose BlueBell Healtcare for specialist Stroke care?

At the heart of our stroke after care is a desire to enable people to live well in their own homes with the care and support they need from a carefully well-matched, trained and dedicated carer. With an BlueBell Healtcare carer, you can be reassured that you are receiving high-quality stroke care and family members get all the support they need during what we know can be a difficult time.

Expert Carer Matching

Over the past 50 years, we have established a reputation for matching carers with our clients to ensure they meet all their needs – this is not just about matching skills, but making sure backgrounds and personalities are aligned so both client and carer can enjoy life together. On the odd occasion we do not get the match right, we respond efficiently to find another carer whilst minimising any disruption to the service.

Continuity of care makes all the difference

Our carers will come and live with you to provide care and support for a longer period than might be offered by other live in care providers. We know that this allows a strong relationship to be formed and a deeper understanding of our clients’ stroke care needs offering consistency and continuity of care.

Expertly trained carers

Our market-leading carer training programme has been created with leading experts and goes well beyond mandatory requirements. This equips our carers to support those recovering from a stroke, which requires more monitoring, care and support. Our carers never stop learning new skills that ensure they continue to deliver the highest standards of stroke care.

A fully managed and regulated dementia care service

Our fully managed and regulated stroke recovery care service means our carers are employed and managed by us whilst they are caring for you. They are supported by a care management team made up of care experts who ensure they are supervised and supported to provide the high standards of care our clients have come to expect.

For the many families that BlueBell Healtcare supports, we know this provides lots of reassurance whilst removing the burden of having to carefully manage the care arrangement for their family member or loved one.

If you use an introduction agency you will be left to manage the carer, pay them, and organise holiday cover once you are introduced to them and they start to care for you.

Rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

We are proud to have been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in all five measures – safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led. We know this provides families with peace of mind that their loved one is receiving the best possible care.

Unrivalled support near you

We operate throughout Oxfordshire and its surrounding counties. Each regional team is made up of a dedicated Care Assessor local to you who is on hand to provide unrivalled levels of support to you, your family and our carer. They are supported by a Care Manager at our central office who handles all other aspects of care delivery to ensure a quality service is delivered, every time.

How to Support a Stroke Patient at Home

Readjusting to life after a stroke can be challenging. In order to provide the best possible support to your loved one at home, it is important to first understand their unique condition and needs.
Before your loved one is discharged from the hospital, your healthcare provider should provide you and your family with a stroke patient care plan. The best support that you can provide is to encourage your loved one to follow this stroke patient care plan and any advice from their healthcare team as closely as possible.
Here are some additional suggestions on how you can support your loved one through their rehabilitation journey:
- Encourage daily movement and exercise – Many stroke patients face mobility concerns after a stroke. Regular exercise can improve their physical and mental well-being and may even help them gradually regain mobility. Exercise does not need to be vigorous, simply walking or stretching can be beneficial. Just be sure to consult with your loved one’s healthcare team before beginning any new exercise regime.
- Help them maintain a safe home environment – It is important to make lifestyle changes at home to improve your loved one’s safety and make their environment more convenient. These changes could include removing fall hazards such as rugs, installing grab bars in the bathroom and moving items closer within reach.
- Encourage a healthy and wholesome diet – A wholesome diet filled with tasty and nutritionally-balanced foods can help your loved one feel better both mentally and physically. If possible, consult with a dietician or nutritionist to help create meal plans that suit your loved one’s needs and lifestyle.
- Provide support with medication management – Any medication prescribed by a doctor must be diligently taken to support your loved one’s recovery. Creating a schedule or using a dosette box can help your loved one remember what to take and when.
- Join stroke counselling or support groups – Interacting with other stroke patients may boost your loved one’s confidence and help alleviate some of the loneliness and anxieties that are commonly felt after a stroke. The Stroke Association has a detailed resource for finding support groups, both locally and online.

TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR LIVE IN CARE NEEDS

Call our friendly and approachable care advisors today to see how we can help you and your family.