The ability to rebuild mobility following a stroke influences overall quality of life. While regaining mobility is often a long process that’s full of challenges, your aging loved one has the best chances of increasing the ability to get around when you implement the following five tips in his or her new care plan.
1. Address Specific Impairments
After a stroke, your loved one may have difficulty with mobility due to specific challenges. For instance, weakness in the leg and ankle muscles can cause one foot to drop whenever it’s picked up. Special braces can be worn to correct this problem. Your loved one may also get tired faster, and the fatigue causes the muscles to give out. Taking frequent breaks can help your loved one slowly build up stamina without getting frustrated.
Enhancing body strength after a stroke is essential for older adults to stay active and healthy. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care. Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
2. Make Transportation Arrangements for Rehab
Once your loved one goes home, he or she will likely need to visit a rehab center to receive professional support while undergoing specific therapies designed to increase muscle strength and coordination. Since each day or week builds upon the one before, your loved one needs to attend every appointment he or she possibly can. Provide your loved one with transportation assistance so he or she always has a reliable way to get to therapy appointments.
3. Follow the Prescribed Therapeutic Exercise Plan at Home
In addition to going to the rehab center, your loved one will also need to exercise at home. Your parent needs to have someone nearby to help him or her maintain balance when exercising. Depending on the severity of the stroke, your loved one may also need someone to help with moving his or her body through each stretch or bend. Develop a schedule for these exercises so they’re performed as prescribed, and make sure you or another caregiver is available to provide assistance.
If you need help with your caregiving duties, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Fair Oaks homecare services experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
4. Prevent Complications from Falls
Your loved one is more vulnerable to fall-related injuries now, and recovering from a broken leg or twisted ankle could delay recovery. Help your loved one identify activities he or she needs help with now. For instance, your loved one may need assistance getting out of bed to use the restroom at night or help with household tasks that require a lot of movement, such as vacuuming. Arrange for help with these tasks so the home stays uncluttered and your loved one isn’t tempted to try something he or she cannot do safely.
5. Find the Right Mobility Aid
Canes, walkers, and wheelchairs are all options that give your loved one the ability to move around until he or she is more stable while walking. Work with your loved one to find a mobility aid he or she prefers, and encourage him or her to use it regularly. Once your loved one begins to feel more stable walking, have a cane or walker available in case he or she suddenly gets tired.
When it comes to stroke care, seniors might need assistance to perform everyday tasks or enhance their physical health. 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. Fair Oaks, CA, 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. If you need professional at-home care for your loved one, Home Care Assistance is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (916) 485-4663.