Having stroke can have a serious impact on the way your aging relative lives, both immediately after the stroke and for years to come. The recovery period after a stroke can vary depending on the severity of the stroke. How much of their previous function an older adult regains can also vary. One of the things that can affect how much function comes back is the senior’s dedication to their rehabilitation and the support they receive. Home care can assist with stroke rehabilitation, so that your aging relative can overcome the impact of the stroke and return to an active life. Below are 4 tips that seniors can use to have a better stroke recovery and how home care can help.

#1: Do What the Doctor Says

After a stroke, the doctor will likely prescribe medications or make changes to existing medications. They’ll also make recommendations for lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes. The more closely the older adult follows the doctor’s instructions, the better the results will be.

Home care can help the senior to follow the doctor’s instructions by reminding them to take medications and driving them to follow up and rehabilitation appointments.

#2: Be Dedicated to Rehabilitation

And speaking of stroke rehabilitation, the more your aging relative puts into it, the more they’ll get out of it and the better their post-stroke function is likely to be. In addition to attending rehabilitation appointments, there will be work the senior needs to do at home, such as exercises and activities.

A home care provider can assist the older adult to do their exercises at home. They can also set up activities that help with stroke rehabilitation, like those that improve the use of hands. For example, the home care provider can set up a bowl of buttons or other small items and an empty bowl for the senior to transfer the buttons from one bowl to the other one at a time using the affected hand.

#3: Assistance with Daily Activities

No matter how hard the older adult works at stroke rehabilitation, they’ll need help for a while. Having a home care provider to assist with things like dressing, making meals, and cleaning the house can reduce the frustration and stress caused by an inability to do the things they used to.

#4: Improve Household Safety

Because stroke can affect the way a senior moves, it’s important to make some changes to prevent them from falling. Home care providers can assist with home safety by removing any clutter that the older adult could trip over, like piles of old magazines or newspapers. They can also move furniture and other items out of walkways. In addition, home care providers can look for trip hazards like cords running across walkways or loose rugs.

Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/recovery.htm
https://www.everydayhealth.com/stroke-photos/tips-for-stroke-recovery.aspx
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/in-depth/stroke-rehabilitation/art-20045172

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Homecare in Gulfport, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.