Learning how to care for an elderly stroke survivor at home can present both challenges and rewards. The difficulties an older adult may face can vary greatly depending on the severity of the stroke. To provide your senior loved one with the best care at home, consider the following tips.
Promote Recovery
It’s important that family members and caregivers empower stroke survivors to do what they can around the house. If your loved one is having difficulty completing a task, don’t take over. Work on it together, motivating your loved one to challenge him or herself to do as much as possible independently.
Ease Mobility Issues
After a stroke, it’s common for a senior to experience mobility challenges. To prevent accidents at home, consider making the following modifications:
- Ensure wires and cables are out of the way
- Install grab bars in the bathroom
- Remove or tape down any area rugs and other tripping hazards
- Put your loved one’s bed in a location that makes it easy to get around, such as next to the bathroom
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a trusted provider of homecare. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. We are a trusted provider of respite and 24-hour care, and we also offer specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care for seniors.
Alleviate Cognitive Challenges
Utilize visual aids and sticky notes to assist an elderly stroke survivor with cognitive challenges. By incorporating sticky notes and pictures into your loved one’s daily routine, you can empower him or her to be more self-sufficient at home. For instance, consider placing a sticky note on the bathroom mirror as a gentle reminder for your loved one to brush his or her teeth or comb his or her hair.
Encourage Rehabilitation Exercises
Regularly practicing activities and exercises that involve a stroke survivor’s affected functions is necessary for recovery. Have your loved one’s therapists and doctors create a personalized home program that caters to your loved one’s needs. While this is a great place to start, remember any challenging yet doable task can boost recovery.
Assist with Drinking & Eating
After experiencing a stroke, a senior may need help with preparing, eating, and swallowing food. The necessary adaptations for eating at home will vary with each elderly stroke survivor, and you should discuss a nutritional program with your loved one’s healthcare provider before making any dietary changes to ensure your loved one gets enough nutrition, calories, and water. These changes can include using straws to help your loved one drink and serving soft foods made in the blender that he or she can easily eat. You can also try reducing any distractions, such as turning off the television, so your loved one can focus on eating.
Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable in-home care. Wilmington, MA, families trust Assisting Hands Home Care to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
Enhance Communication
When a senior experiences a stroke, it can have an impact on the ability to speak and communicate effectively. However, there are ways you can support your loved one at home. For instance, you can make a communication board that allows your loved one to point to words and pictures to express him or herself.
It’s also important to allow plenty of time to answer questions and avoid answering on your loved one’s behalf, as this can prevent him or her from practicing speech. Using simple sentences can also be helpful, and if you find it challenging to understand what your loved one is saying, do your best to be patient and encouraging.
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. Wilmington, MA, live-in care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of a live-in caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Assisting Hands Home Care. Reach out to one of our compassionate Care Specialists today.
