Being able to recognize the signs of a stroke helps you give your senior loved one the best chances of having a good recovery. Once you notice your loved one experiencing weakness on one side of the body, disrupted speech, vertigo, or difficulty with comprehension, you’ll know it’s time to spring into action. The steps you take immediately and in the following weeks after your loved one has a stroke play a big role in helping him or her stay safe while working on regaining his or her abilities. Add these steps to your stroke recovery care plan, and you’ll know exactly what to do if you find yourself facing this emergency situation.
Seek Emergency Medical Care
People sometimes brush mild strokes off as being just a momentary spell or fluke. However, smaller strokes can still cause significant damage to the brain, and it’s often difficult to tell how severe one is just from the symptoms. Seniors who receive immediate medical attention tend to have the highest survival rates, and getting medical care within the first hour of having a stroke could help your loved one retain more of his or her abilities.
One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide Live-in care. Turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.
Stay with Your Loved One
Sometimes seniors feel tired after having strokes, but going to sleep could cause an even more life-threatening situation. Staying with your loved one can keep him or her alert and talking until medical help arrives. You’ll also be able to immediately provide the responders with helpful information. If possible, try to take note of when the stroke began along with the symptoms you noticed. You may also need to be prepared to give your loved one’s health care team a list of your loved one’s current medications and any allergies he or she may have.
Start Learning Everything You Can
You might not have expected to become an expert on strokes, but you can expect to be provided with a lot of information in the coming days. Learning about the type of stroke your loved one had along with its prognosis can help you begin planning for your loved one’s future care. Before you leave the hospital, you’ll be provided with discharge instructions. Make sure you fully understand each thing you need to do, and ask questions about anything that doesn’t make sense. Taking notes or asking for printed information gives you something you can refer back to later when more questions arise.
Providing post-stroke care can be challenging. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional home care service. Danville, CA, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care Danville. Our caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Plan for Continuing Care at Home
Leaving the hospital feels like a huge achievement, and it does represent a major advancement in your loved one’s health. However, you’ll want to remember that stroke complications are one of the leading causes of rehospitalizations. Many complications are preventable with proper planning. Arranging for someone to help your loved one move around the home or provide transportation to appointments prevents accidents that could land him or her back in the hospital again.
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. Danville, CA, elderly home care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of an in-home caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place. Assisting Hands Home Care will work with you to customize a care plan that’s just right for your loved one’s needs. Call us today at 925-332-1276 to learn more about our customized care plans.
