The Reality of an Aneurysm: Immediate Impact & Long-Term Recovery
A brain aneurysm can be silent until it isn’t. Many people, like Maria, don’t realize they have one until a rupture occurs, leading to a sudden, life-threatening emergency.
The aftermath of an aneurysm can bring a wide range of physical and cognitive challenges.
- Cognitive Impairment: This includes issues such as memory loss, difficulty with problem-solving, and struggles with concentration.
- Physical Weakness: Fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and even mobility issues are another hurdle to overcome if the aneurysm has an impact on motor control.
- Emotional Changes: Many survivors struggle to cope with unexpected loss and a sense of grief. Many experience frustration, mood swings, and depression as they adjust to their new limitations.
- Long-Term Rehabilitation Needs: Recovery from an aneurysm often involves physical therapy, occupational therapy, and cognitive exercises to regain lost function.
For Maria, the challenge wasn’t just about healing physically — it was about relearning how to navigate her own life again.
That’s why, for her, having a care manager in place was essential.
How an Aging Life Care Manager® Can Help
After an aneurysm, families often feel lost in a maze of medical decisions, therapy schedules, and emotional upheaval. Our care managers act as a guide, helping to create a plan for recovery that makes sense.
For Maria and Sofia, we provided:
- ✅ Cognitive Therapy Resources: Connecting Maria with specialists to strengthen memory and cognitive function.
- ✅ Medication & Symptom Monitoring: Helping Sofia track medication schedules and recognize signs of improvement or concern.
- ✅ Home Safety Adjustments: Ensuring Maria’s environment was free of fall risks and easy to navigate.
- ✅ Emotional Support: Reassuring Maria that setbacks were normal and that progress takes time.
- ✅ Family Education: Providing Sofia with the knowledge she needed to support her mother without feeling overwhelmed.
With this guidance, Maria’s recovery became structured, manageable, and hopeful.
Taking the Next Step
An aneurysm can change life in an instant — but recovery is possible with the right support. If your loved one has experienced an aneurysm, you don’t have to navigate the journey alone.
An Aging Life Care Manager® can help create a customized recovery plan, ensuring your family gets the care and resources you need.
Call today to discuss your loved one’s recovery. The path forward is challenging, but you don’t have to walk it alone.
Maria’s Journey After an Aneurysm
We are going to be sharing the story of how Maria navigated the journey to recovery after an aneurysm with the help of an Aging Life Care Manager®. Check back next month to read the next step of Maria’s journey to recovery!
Maria had always been a force of nature. At 82, she was the heart of her family and her community. She volunteered at church, she loved tending to her vibrant garden, and everyone looked forward to her baking at every family gathering. Her days were filled with purpose, joy, and movement.
Then, one afternoon, while pruning her rose bushes, she felt an intense headache unlike anything she’d ever experienced. The world around her blurred, her knees buckled, and she collapsed.
Her neighbor, who happened to be outside, saw Maria fall and ran to her aid, calling 911. At the hospital, doctors confirmed the cause: a brain aneurysm that had ruptured.
The days that followed were filled with uncertainty. Maria survived the initial trauma, but the aneurysm left behind cognitive challenges — memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, and moments of confusion. For the first time, Maria’s independence was in question.
“I feel like my thoughts slip through my fingers,” Maria confided to her daughter, Sofia, who had taken on the role of caregiver. “I just want to feel like myself again.”
Sofia was determined to help her mother recover, but she was also overwhelmed. Doctor’s appointments, therapy options, medication adjustments — it was more than she had expected. That’s when a nurse suggested reaching out to an Aging Life Care Manager®, also known as a Geriatric Care Manager, someone who could guide them through the complexities of aneurysm recovery.
Read the rest of Maria’s story: