If your elderly loved one has a stroke, it can be scary for the whole family. However, with a proper rehabilitation plan, he or she can increase the odds of recovering and enjoying a high quality of life. Here are some steps to take if your parent has experienced a stroke.
1. Serve Healthy Foods
The foods your loved one eats could help him or her recover from a stroke and prevent strokes in the future. Your loved one will need to stop eating foods high in saturated fats and sugars. Instead, make sure his or her diet is full of vegetables and fruits. Your loved one will also need to switch to low-fat dairy products and reduce or eliminate his or her sodium intake. This can lower your parent’s weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of a stroke.
Caring for senior loved ones 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 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.
2. Discourage Smoking
Smoking cigarettes and cigars and using other tobacco products can increase the chances of having a stroke, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. Smoking damages the lining of the arteries, causing a buildup of the fatty material that narrows the arteries, which can cause a stroke or heart attack. Find out what triggers your loved one’s smoking and eliminate those stress factors. Your loved one should have healthy snacks available for the times when he or she gets the urge to smoke.
3. Encourage Regular Exercise
As soon as your loved one is capable of physical activity, he or she should start moving. Exercise enhances the flow of blood to the brain and can prevent another stroke. Regular exercise can also help your loved one regain function in the areas of the body that were affected by the stroke. Aerobic exercises and strengthening techniques are some of the best ways to increase muscle strength and mobility after a stroke.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Clearwater elderly home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.
4. Provide Accessible Clothing
Seniors may have difficulty getting dressed after a stroke. If your loved one expends too much energy putting on clothing and accessories, he or she will have less energy to exercise and regain physical strength. Purchase clothing that fastens in the front and doesn’t need to go over the head, shirts and pants that have Velcro instead of zippers, and shoes that don’t stick to the floor.
5. Spend Time Together
Even if your loved one is unable to talk or communicate, be there and spend time with him or her. This can boost your loved one’s mood and prevent anxiety and depression, which has a negative impact on the body. When your loved one is stressed, the amount of cortisol produced in the body increases, preventing blood and oxygen from flowing through the body. This can cause even more damage to the brain and possibly lead to another stroke. However, just being there for your loved one can enhance his or her mood during stroke 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. Clearwater, FL, live-in care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of a live-in caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place. Home Care Assistance will work with you to customize a care plan that’s just right for your loved one’s needs. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (727) 330-7862 to learn more about our customized care plans.