How To Help A Parent Recover From A Stroke At Home

Recovering from a stroke is a lifelong process made up of tiny steps over the course of many months and years. It is not a process with a specific time frame or goals that can be accomplished according to a set schedule. In order to help your parent recover from a stroke at home you need information and support. Recovery is a long process and the more you know the easier it will be.
 
Going home from the hospital or rehabilitation center may be the hardest thing your loved one will do after a stroke. When your parent comes home you will be able to determine the full extent of their limitations as they try to carry out activities of daily living. Entering familiar surroundings will bring memories of all the things he or she loves and wants to do; some of which may not be possible due to the impairments of the stroke. Your parent must also try to apply the skills learned in rehab to the home environment. These factors make returning home a time fraught with emotion and frustration. Encouragement is key at this time. Remind your parent that the first step is coming home and that together you can work toward resuming beloved activities.
 
As a caregiver, you must prepare yourself for the road ahead as well. It can be difficult to adjust to the fact that your parent can no longer do some things for themselves. It can be disconcerting to watch him or her struggle to do simple things like walk, talk or get a glass of water. You may have to give up your free time and the ability to do things that you enjoy. It will help if you seek out support for yourself immediately through stroke support groups, and set up a personal support network of friends and family who can share some of the caregiving responsibilities. It is important to take stroke recovery one day at a time.
 
Make sure that the home environment is safe and easy for your parent to navigate. Make sure that walkways outside the house are smooth and well lit. Make sure that indoor traffic patterns are wide, clear and non-slip. Grab bars beside the tub and toilet are essential and night lights are a must-have throughout the house.
 
Information is power and you are going to need lots of it as you help your parent recover from a stroke at home. Start by scheduling a follow-up appointment for your parent with his or her primary care physician, they’ll be able to give you important information to about how to approach post-stroke and identify signs of stroke. Ask about support services available at the hospital and in your community. Talk to the doctor about whether your parent qualifies for visiting nurse services or other types of at-home clinical support. Then ask if you can speak to the social worker at the hospital in order to get a list of all the community support services that you might access.
 
Inquire about specific types of programs in your area including Meals on Wheels that delivers hot meals to the home, adult day care with activities that can support your loved one’s recovery, and at-home care agencies that can provide highly trained caregivers with specific skills to help you care for a parent after a stroke. You will also want to check on local transportation services that can take wheelchair users and others on errands such as shopping or doctor’s visits.

Visit us online today @ http://www.homecareassistanceprescott.com

5 Simple Exercises Senior Stroke Survivors Can Try

Recovering from a stroke can be a long process for seniors and their caregivers. The body will need to rebuild its strength and control after the damage, and daily activities can become difficult to do without assistance.

Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Prescott Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. Here are a few easy exercises senior stroke survivors can try.

1. Core Exercises

After a stroke, your elderly loved one may have difficulty gaining control and strength on one side of the body. If your loved one has a strong core, it will be easier for the rest of the body to recover from a stroke. It is important for him or her to focus on the affected side of the body when doing core exercises. Failing to do so could lead to decreased bone density and increased risk of bone loss and fractures.

Here are some easy core exercises for seniors:

• Knee rolling
• Single leg bridging
• Single leg dropouts

2. Leg Exercises

After a stroke, seniors might face issues with balance and coordination, which could make walking, standing, and other simple actions difficult to do. The stroke could also cause your loved one’s muscles to weaken around the hip area. However, leg exercises can strengthen your loved one’s muscles and increase his or her range of motion. Some of the exercises listed below could also help build coordination in the lower body:

• Toe and heel raises
• Sitting knee extensions
• Foot and ankle circles

3. Hand Exercises

Regaining motor skills is an important part of the stroke recovery process. Many seniors experience issues with hand movement after a stroke. Regaining complete function of the hands can be challenging, but doing hand exercises could ease the process over time. Your senior loved one should consider using strength balls when exercising the hands. He or she can also use putty for a variety of hand exercises, including:

• Power grip
• Finger scissors
• Fingertip pinch

Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Prescott live-in care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust in professional live-in caregivers to enhance his or her quality of life.

4. Arm Exercises

Strokes can make it difficult for seniors to perform simple tasks, such as grasping objects, moving the arm forward, or releasing items. Below are basic arm exercises your elderly loved one can do to restore normal function in his or her arms:

• Inner arm stretches
• Wrist and hand stretches
• Wrist motions
• Elbow stretches

5. Language Exercises

Your senior loved one could experience problems with speaking and communicating after a stroke. Language exercises can help him or her understand words, learn to read, speak clearly, and regain the ability to write. Some of the language exercises can increase strength and endurance in the muscles he or she uses when speaking. Here are a few language exercises your loved one can do:

• Breathe in and out
• Watch speech and language videos
• Use speech therapy apps (virtual conversations with computer)

If you are caring for a senior loved one who has experienced a stroke, the Prescott, AZ, post-stroke care experts at Home Care Assistance are here to help. All of our hourly and live-in caregivers are expertly trained in stroke care and can assist with a wide array of tasks, including bathing, grooming, cooking, and exercise. Call us at 928-771-0105 to learn about our patent approach to stroke care.

Visit us online today @ http://www.homecareassistanceprescott.com