Caring for a Senior After Their Stroke: What to Know
Are you caring for a senior in Osseo or the surrounding area who just suffered a stroke? Taking steps now is crucial to the health and rehabilitation of your loved one. Here are a couple of tips that can help.
Strokes can be life-changing events, especially for seniors. Unfortunately, the elderly are more likely than other age groups to have strokes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 6 million hospitalizations a year are due to stroke among those aged 65 or older. If you’re caring for a senior after they suffer from a stroke, there are certain steps you can take to ensure their recovery and well-being. In this blog post, we'll discuss what you need to know about caring for your senior loved one after their stroke.
The first step in providing care for a senior who has had a stroke is to understand the type of stroke that occurred. Ischemic strokes occur when blood clots block blood vessels, while hemorrhagic strokes involve bleeding in the brain due to weakened or damaged vessels. Knowing which type of stroke has happened will help guide treatment options and potential long-term care needs.
It’s also important to recognize the warning signs of future strokes, as well as any physical changes that may come with having had one. Common signs include slurred speech, sudden confusion, difficulty walking or staying balanced, vision loss or blurred vision, pain on one side of the body, and severe headache without any explanation. If your loved one experiences any of these symptoms during their recovery period or afterward it’s important that they seek medical attention right away.
Your loved one's rehabilitation and recovery will likely begin shortly after they’ve been released from the hospital. Rehabilitation often involves physical therapy as well as occupational therapy. During this time it's important that your senior loved one rests frequently throughout the day and gets enough sleep at night. You can also provide additional forms of support such as cleaning up around the house or helping with simple tasks like laundry and dishes so they don't overexert themselves. If you do not have the time or ability to provide support around the home, hiring an in-home care agency can help.
In addition to these physical considerations during rehabilitation, emotional healing should also not be overlooked at this time; post-stroke depression is not uncommon so checking up on your loved one's mental and emotional state regularly is necessary. Companionship and activities like light exercise (exercises meant for people recovering from strokes) or playing board games together can help engage both mind and body at once - learning new hobbies together is another great way to stay connected when unable to move much!
It might also be helpful to join support groups both online and in person where those affected by strokes can meet each other and share resources and tips on how best to cope with different challenges they encounter while recovering- many stroke survivors offer great advice based on personal experiences that could prove invaluable during tough times ahead too! Finally, do not forget about nutrition - make sure your senior family member receives healthy meals daily.
When someone suffers a stroke it’s important that all aspects of care are taken into account: physical health, mental health, and nutrition must all be addressed if they're going to maintain an optimal level of wellness while moving through the recovery process.
Comfort Keepers Can Help
At Comfort Keepers, we have helped many seniors post-stroke or hospital stay remain independent at home. Our caregivers, serving Osseo and the surrounding Minnesota communities, can help through personal care and companionship. We can even help with mobility assistance if your loved one requires it after a stroke. To learn more about Comfort Keepers and how we can help your loved one, give us a call at (763) 273-4207 or submit a request for information form.
