Senior stroke survivors need assistance on their road to recovery. Though they will face many challenges and changes following a stroke, these can all be addressed with high-quality at-home care in Tucson. Here are some tips to help you provide the stroke care your senior loved one needs and deserves.
Put Together a Care Team
The care team you assemble can handle your loved one’s personal, medical, financial, and health needs. This team can consist of family, friends, and medical professionals, and you may also want to hire a professional Tucson stroke caregiver who can apply his or her knowledge and expertise. If you are to be part of this team, you may need to educate yourself on how to care for your loved one post-stroke.
Make the Home Safer
Before your loved one returns home after a stroke, speak with an occupational therapist to find out what you can do to make the home safer. You may want to have grab bars placed in the bathroom and shower and get rid of throw rugs to prevent your loved one from falling. If your loved one’s bedroom is on a floor with stairs, you may need to move it to a lower level without stairs until his or her mobility has returned.
Assist with Mobility
Because your loved one’s mobility will be affected by the stroke, part of his or her recovery will involve rehabilitation at home. This includes doing some of the activities he or she did before the stroke. With your assistance, your loved one can continue walking, exercising, playing computer games, taking trips to the grocery store, and more. Helping your loved one maintain these daily activities can promote his or her cognitive, physical, and emotional wellbeing. However, doing too many activities too early in the recovery may overwork your loved one’s body and mind.
Address Mood Changes
Your loved one will likely experience mood changes following a stroke. Depression can have a negative impact on your loved one’s recovery, making it important to keep him or her motivated and in good spirits. Avoid telling your loved one you know what he or she is going through, especially if you have never experienced a stroke, because this may cause him or her to become irritated and upset. Regardless of these changes in mood, remain kind, patient, and supportive. Suggest your loved one attend support groups where he or she can spend time with other seniors facing similar situations. The interaction could help boost your loved one’s mood and benefit his or her recovery.
Prevent Recurrence
The risk of a stroke recurrence nearly doubles for seniors. One of the main factors associated with a stroke recurrence is weight gain. Ensuring your loved one maintains a diet and exercise routine that lowers cholesterol and blood pressure levels is one way to prevent this. Your loved one should avoid foods high in saturated fat, and he or she should also avoid drinking alcohol or smoking. Explain the importance of these lifestyle changes to your loved one and how they can prevent a stroke recurrence.
If your loved one has experienced a stroke and needs hourly or live-in assistance, turn to Home Care Assistance. Our caregivers can assist with mobility and exercise, prepare nutritious meals, and provide the emotional support your loved one needs. In addition to stroke care, we also offer comprehensive Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia care Tucson seniors and their families can rely on. For more information, call a Care Manager at (520) 276-6555 today.