A stroke occurs when the brain can’t get enough blood, and nearly 200,000 Americans experience this type of trauma every year. Without proper stroke care, there’s a very high risk of secondary complications, such as permanent damage to the nerves and muscles. When recovering from strokes, seniors often need extensive assistance once they return home from the hospital. Here are some steps to take if your elderly loved one has a stroke.
1. Don’t Overwhelm Your Loved One
Your first thought might be to immediately bring over friends and family members, but this could overwhelm a stroke survivor. Until your loved one has been able to recover for a few weeks, he or she might only be able to focus on one person at a time.
When speaking with your loved one, use clear sentences and keep your voice at a normal volume. Strokes affect people in many different ways, and some seniors experience absolutely no problems with their comprehension skills.
2. Get Appropriate Clothes
One of the most common challenges for stroke survivors is having difficulty getting dressed. Even though you might need to dress your loved one for a few weeks, he or she may be able to dress independently with the right clothes and enough practice.
Any new clothes you purchase should be loose and easy to put on. Your loved one might also need to switch over to shoes with Velcro straps instead of laces. Clothes with small buttons or zippers should be avoided.
3. Work with Therapists
Many stroke survivors must work with therapists and other specialists to rebuild their skills. These include speech therapists, who can help seniors form complete sentences and speak clearly. Depending on which part of the brain was damaged by the stroke, your loved one might also benefit from working with a physical therapist, who will help your parent perform exercises to rebuild the strength in the arms and legs.
Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care Phoenix for the help they need. We provide high-quality in-home care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
4. Ask the Doctor about Exercising
Stroke survivors should speak with their doctors to make sure they’re healthy enough for physical activities. Seniors who have had severe strokes could trigger additional strokes if they exercise too vigorously.
As a general rule, those who have had mini-strokes can reduce their risk of additional strokes with regular exercise. Doing water aerobics, swimming, and riding a stationary bike are all excellent options for stroke survivors who are trying to rebuild their strength.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Phoenix home care service provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help.
5. Join a Support Group
Both seniors and their caregivers can benefit from joining support groups. A stroke can take a major toll on a senior’s quality of life, which can create a variety of psychological problems, such as depression. Support groups are an excellent way to meet like-minded people who are in similar situations. If you can’t find a support group online, speak with your loved one’s doctor to see if he or she is in contact with any nearby groups.
Recovering from a stroke, managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and a variety of other health-related situations can make it difficult for a senior to continue living at home without someone there to help. Phoenix, AZ, in-home care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of an around-the-clock caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place. If you need professional home care for your loved one, our Care Managers are just a phone call away. Reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care today at 602-847-6549.
