Curries and communication: How Amara is recovering from stroke
After hospitalisation for an illness or injury, people typically can’t wait to go home. More than 18 months after having a stroke – which left him unable to swallow, speak or care for himself – Amara feels the same way. And he has made great progress with support from Healthscope Independence Services. Amara hopes to get back to his family as soon as possible.
Stroke in Australia
Amara, who is in his sixties, is one of the more than 445,000 Australians living with the effects of a stroke[1]. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain either becomes suddenly blocked or tears and leaks. Causes of stroke include blood clots which form in narrowed arteries, long-term high blood pressure, and weakness in artery walls[2]. Risk factors for having a stroke include smoking, high cholesterol, unhealthy eating, lack of physical activity, type 2 diabetes and an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), as well as age, gender (sex) and family history2.
A stroke can be fatal. For people who survive, the resulting damage to the brain can affect a wide range of body functions, including the ability to swallow, communicate, think and move[3]. Over half the people who survive a stroke will need ongoing help with everyday activities[4].
Amara’s stroke occurred in December 2020. ‘I felt like I was about to fall onto my left side when I realised I was already on the floor,’ he says. ‘My wife and son called an ambulance, which took me to hospital.’
After six months in hospital and a rehabilitation facility, Amara came to live at Wordsworth House in Clayton South. There, he receives 24/7 support for everyday activities, along with rehabilitation services delivered by external providers.
Food for thought
One of the goals Amara has been working on is eating. When he arrived at Wordsworth House, Amara couldn’t swallow, which meant he had to receive nutrition through a tube. ‘Now I am eating normal,’ he says.
A speech pathologist visits Amara to provide therapy and advise staff on how to support him with his communication and transitioning from tube to oral eating. House Supervisor Denish explains that because Amara initially couldn’t eat or drink anything (even sips of water), his mouth was very dry, and staff had to perform regular oral care. He progressed to eating minced foods and is now eating soft foods independently, as well as drinking tea, coffee and coconut water.
Communication and the cat
Amara has also been working on his communication. ‘Before, I couldn’t talk much,’ he explains, ‘but now it's getting better.’ Wordsworth House staff support Amara to keep in touch with his family. His wife and adult son and daughter visit often, but now Amara can talk to them every day. ‘He has an iPad in his room, so whenever he wants to, he can call and have a conversation with them,’ explains Denish. ‘He can also see his cat, which he absolutely loves.’
Sweeni, one of Amara’s support workers, says he loves talking with his son and daughter and ‘getting involved in their day-to-day lives.’
Amara’s experience has been helped by having staff – including Sweeni – who can speak Sinhalese. ‘We come from the same country [Sri Lanka], so we have a lot of things in common,’ says Sweeni. ‘I think he's more free to talk in our language about his childhood and things he did when he first came to Australia.’
Sweeni finds her work with Amara and the other residents of Wordsworth House very rewarding. ‘I'm happy I get to help them in a way that makes a difference in their lives.’
Curries, cooking and culture
Culturally sensitive support extends to Amara’s food preferences. Denish explains Amara doesn’t like certain foods, like roast pork or beef. ‘He likes curry and rice, so we make separate meals for him.’
Amara has improved to the point where he can cook. ‘Our carers support him making his curries,’ Denish says. ‘Initially, we didn't have all the spices he needed. He gave us a list and we ordered everything. Now he's preparing meals for the whole house.’
Amara also enjoys watching news and Sri Lankan television, which staff assist him to access on his iPad.
Support for social inclusion
Support has also focused on helping Amara participate in social activities. ‘When I came to the house, I used to stay in my room,’ he says. ‘Now, I go out for walks with my carer.’ Amara uses a walker and can go much further than he used to.
Sweeni says Amara gets on well with the other residents. ‘He comes out whenever he feels like it and has tea or coffee’. He has even made a new friend. ‘One of our other clients is from Sri Lanka, Sweeni explains. ‘Culturally and food-wise, they have things in common.’
Homeward bound
Amara’s next goal is to get home. He still receives three tube feeds per day, but it is hoped this can be stopped as his eating continues to improve. A physiotherapist visits Wordsworth House to work on Amara’s mobility and physical function, and staff provide support for daily exercises and walking practice.
As Sweeni explains: ‘We're doing everything we can to make him happy and provide a safe environment, but we want him to get better and better. That’s the goal we’re all working towards.’
References
[1] https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/au/Documents/Economics/deloitte-au-dae-no-postcode-untouched-report-061120.pdf
[2] https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/stroke#causes
[3] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/hsvd-facts/contents/heart-stroke-and-vascular-disease-and-subtypes/stroke
[4] https://www.neura.edu.au/health/stroke/