Caring for seniors after a stroke isn’t an easy task considering the fact that it involves a whole new lifestyle change, which might take a toll on the caregivers’ health if not properly managed. However, as a caregiver, you have to be armed with knowledge so that you can be better attuned to the needs of your loved one for after stroke care as well as taking care of your own needs.
With the high prevalence of stroke in the United States, a senior requiring stroke patient care has to have the best care they can get. You can hire caregivers with Porter Home Health Services; or choose to care for your loved one yourself. If you decide to take care of your senior yourself, here are things to know.
Put your senior’s emotional health at the center of your care
Stroke comes with debilitating effects on emotional health because of the lasting impairments it causes:
- Paralysis of one side of the body
- Visual impairment
- Trouble with speech
- Walking difficulties
All these disabilities may cause a senior to sink into depression and anxiety. You have to constantly reassure them that you love them; you are with them throughout the journey; Besides, you can also engage in fun activities to lighten the mood: play their favorite movie or songs, play games, and recount favorite memories.
Porter Home Health Services have expert caregivers who will adequately care for your loved one with a unique care plan to prevent depression. They’ve been trained specifically for stroke care; therefore, your loved one is in the best hands.
Lifestyle modifications
Lifestyle modifications are absolutely necessary because of the disabilities seniors with stroke come down with. Partial vision loss makes seniors susceptible to falls; a fall is one important occurrence you should prevent because it can cause other medical conditions like fractures. Here are things you should do to prevent falls:
- Install grab rails in your bathrooms
- Get a wheelchair ramp for better convenience
- Make sure you visit the ophthalmologist for a different lens prescription following stroke
- Make sure the house has better lighting
- Remove any object or obstacle that might cause falls
- Make sure the floors aren’t wet or slippery. Clean any spill immediately if you’ve got any senior with stroke in the house.
Reduced strength is one of the aftermaths of stroke, so encourage your loved ones to perform their exercises consistently and be regular with their physical therapy sessions. And make sure they don’t stop whenever they start seeing improvements.
Take Care of Yourself
We understand how grueling taking care of an elderly with stroke can be and how it can take an adverse toll on your health if you aren’t careful. Whenever you think you need a break from taking care of your loved one, don’t feel guilty; take it and call us, Porter Home Health Services; if you are in Dallas, TX, and environs to take care of your loved one.
We offer respite care services to fill in for you, however long or short you want it to be. Your loved one won’t know the difference, and we will take good care of your elderly as if you were there.
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