Tips for Helping an Older Parent with Stroke Recovery

Even with modern medicine, technology, and therapy advancements, a stroke can lead to various mental and physical risks. If your aging parent has had a stroke, it’s essential to stay aware of your loved one’s health and develop effective post-stroke strategies. The objective is for your parent to recover as fully as possible and avoid additional hospital stays or a reduced quality of life.

Make Changes & Remain Realistic

Before your loved one is discharged from the hospital, ask questions. Learn about medications, medical equipment, diet restrictions, and other essential information. 

Remember your loved one’s brain may not be as sharp as before the stroke, so you need to be clear and concise while readjusting your vocabulary. Simple games and puzzles can keep your loved one’s mind active and allow your parent to rehabilitate at his or her own pace.

Installing grab bars, adding additional lighting, and moving furniture around may be necessary to minimize obstacles. Ensure exercise is added to the routine to avoid nonuse of the side of the body affected by the stroke.

Get Assistance

Having friends and family step up to assist with the caregiving process is essential for stroke recovery. This can make the daily schedule less hectic for you and your loved one, whether the assistance is with food preparation, medication management, transportation to and from doctor and therapy visits, or merely emotional support. If your family cannot help, seek professional home care from trained caregivers. These individuals can also share valuable knowledge and strategies to use in the future. 

One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide Home Care. Milwaukee families can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.

Take Falls Seriously

Though these incidents may be common, don’t shrug off your loved one’s falls after a stroke. Ignoring a fall could lead to more severe complications, including another stroke. Therefore, monitor falls and look for serious bruising, bleeding, or pain. If you notice these symptoms, take your loved one to the doctor or the emergency room immediately. Even if the falls aren’t severe, monitor the number of falls within the next few weeks because your parent could require additional medication or physical therapy. 

Hiring a professional in-home care expert is a good way to keep your loved one healthy and reduce his or her risk of falls. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional homecare. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Seek a Support Group

Support allows older adults to manage depression due to decreasing health or medical problems they won’t recover from immediately. Failing to get assistance for your loved one could hinder recovery and lead to other mental and physical conditions. In support group sessions, counselors and professionals can help your loved one develop a plan of action to handle his or her emotions and maintain a positive attitude about recovery, regardless of how quickly or slowly the process is going. It will also help you to surround yourself with individuals going through similar situations so you can speak freely and openly about what you experience with your parent during recovery. 

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. Milwaukee, WI, elderly 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 your loved one needs professional care, Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (262) 228-4467 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.