The SCAN Foundation

Daughters are more likely than sons to suffer from depression when caring for a parent who is recovering from a stroke, according to a presentation at the Canadian Stroke Congress. A stroke patient often needs long-term services and supports to recover, and daughters typically take the role of caregiver, the person in charge of arranging and managing the supports and services.

The impact on the caregiver is affected by family history. “Taking care of elderly parents can bring out family strengths and family weaknesses,” said Marina Bastawrous, in a presentation to the Congress. Her presentation noted, “close and secure relationships with parents predicted better mental health and greater satisfaction in adult child caregivers. But strained relationships before or following the stroke increases depression in daughters. If the relationship between a parent and adult daughter is already strained, a stroke can make things even worse.” Additional proof of the importance of family relationships in speeding recovery is provided in the July 2008 study, “Optimizing Stroke Systems of Care by Enhancing Transitions Across Care Environments,” in the journal Stroke by the American Heart Association on the transition from hospital care to recovery for stroke victims. “Supporting long-term recovery and rehabilitation are necessary to help stroke survivors adapt to living with the effects of stroke and to help family members adapt to the caregiving role,” the study said. “During recovery and rehabilitation, many elements of the health care continuum are utilized, including emergency response, acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and community and long-term care.”