Strokes are a fairly common health concern among the elderly. And while many people can survive a stroke if caught quickly enough and treatment is immediately applied, the long-term effects of having a stroke can be extremely difficult to work through, and limit your loved one’s ability to manage many of the daily tasks that they used to do. Many stroke survivors continue to need additional help around the home and inevitably lose a bit of their independence. Senior home care can help.
Stroke Risk Factors
While the risk of stroke cannot be completely removed, some lifestyle choices increase a person’s risk of having a stroke. Understanding these risk factors is the first step in helping your elderly loved one reduce the risk of stroke, and getting at-home assistance, such as senior home care, can help establish better routines.
- High Blood Pressure. Unmanaged high blood pressure is the number one risk when it comes to a stroke.
- Having had a previous heart attack.
- Being overweight.
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Smoking
Three Steps to Take to Reduce the Risk of Stroke
There are lots of steps you and senior home care professionals can help your loved one take to reduce their risk of having a stroke. If it’s too overwhelming for them to make multiple lifestyle changes, start with just one that seems easiest to implement, and then build on that success once your loved one has made that change regularly.
- Attend those regular doctor visits and get those tests taken. You and your loved one will better manage their high blood pressure and cholesterol levels (two factors that commonly lead to a stroke) if you know what numbers your loved one has and what they should be. Their doctor can help them determine what medications might help, as well as what lifestyle changes are most important.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If your loved one is overweight, encouraging them to take steps to reduce their weight will help improve their health in many aspects, as well as reduce their risk of stroke. A healthier diet, increased physical activity, and even better sleep can help your loved one achieve a healthier weight.
- Get professional help for any bad addictive habits. Smoking and drinking too much alcohol may require a support group and a program to help your loved one stop these habits that are negatively affecting their health.
Recovering from a Stroke with Senior Home Care
If a stroke does happen, as mentioned earlier, acting quickly and getting immediate help is your loved one’s best chance to recover from it. The recovery period will still be long, and your loved one may need additional assistance at home and during their daily living activities. Many caregivers find that having a senior home care provider assist during this time can be extremely helpful to both their loved one and them.
Senior home care providers can help with chores around the home as well as some daily living activities, such as getting ready in the morning or taking a bath. Senior home care providers can also help caregivers by providing them with a bit of respite while they take over for a bit, so the caregiver can take time to manage other responsibilities or spend some time caring for themselves.
The road after a stroke is often long and difficult, but your loved one will navigate it more successfully with a great senior home care support team.
If you or someone you know needs Senior Home Care in Mankato, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality, affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members of the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 525-7742 for more information.