How to Help an Aging Adult Safely Recover from a Stroke

The long-term health effects of a stroke can vary depending on its severity and location in the brain. However, most people experience some changes in their mobility and thinking skills that can pose challenges during recovery. Fortunately, receiving high-quality care during the first few weeks at home helps seniors have the safest recovery possible. 

Understand the Discharge Instructions

The discharge process at the hospital often proceeds quickly and involves a senior and his or her family receiving a large amount of information at once. Since discharge instructions provide critical information regarding things such as how to manage medication, it’s important for everyone to understand what to do. Ask for discharge instructions to be provided in print, or write them down. Then ask questions to clarify any parts of the instructions you don’t understand.  Consider hiring a professional caregiver if your loved one is recovering from a stroke. Arlington elder care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.

Arrange for Assistance at Home

Once seniors return home from the hospital, they often need assistance with activities they once did independently. For instance, seniors who have weakness in their arms or hands may need help cutting their food. Alternatively, seniors with mild changes in their mobility may still need help with housekeeping until they regain their energy.  If your aging loved one needs occasional help with bathing, grooming, cooking, or other basic household tasks, or if you need time to attend to important personal matters, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of live-in and respite care. Arlington seniors can maintain their independence while living at home with the help of our reliable respite caregivers.

Practice Fall Prevention

Falls are a major cause of rehospitalization after a stroke. Find out if your loved one has changes in the ability to walk. A shuffling gait is common after a stroke and makes a fall more likely. Assess your loved one’s home for potential fall hazards such as rugs and remove them. Then make sure the things your loved one needs are low enough to be reached without having to climb on a ladder or chair. 

Create a Recovery Room

One way to make sure your loved one recovers safely is to provide a space to rest that has everything he or she needs. Choose a room in the home that has easy access to the bathroom and a sink, and place his or her bed in this room. Then add a nightstand or bed table that has a place to hold your loved one’s glasses as well as tissues and water. Once a recovery room is set up, establish a way for your loved one to communicate with his or her caregiver when assistance is needed. A bell, phone, or speaker system works well for ensuring seniors don’t get out of bed without help until they’re stronger. 

Provide Support for Lifestyle Changes

A large part of stroke recovery is preventing another stroke from happening. For many older adults, this means lifestyle changes must be implemented, such as switching to a healthier diet or performing prescribed exercises. Make sure your loved one has a caregiver who can stop by every day to keep him or her motivated while providing assistance with things such as meal planning or doing morning stretches in bed. If your senior loved one needs professional in-home care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. 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. Reach out to us at Home Care Assistance if you need compassionate professional at-home care for your loved one. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (817) 591-1580.