When many people think of stroke they immediately think of the physical impact that this type of medical emergency can have. Your mind might go to the facial drooping or partial paralysis that your parent might experience, or the difficulties that they might have with tasks such as talking, walking, or writing. What you might not think of is the emotional effect that your parent’s stroke can have. Recognizing this and doing what you can to help your parent deal with these emotional aspects can make the process of recovery much smoother and easier for both of you, and help them to achieve and maintain a better quality of life moving forward.
Some of the emotional effects that your senior might face as they are going through their stroke recovery include:
• Pseudobulbar Affect, which causes rapid mood changes and inappropriate emotional responses to situations, particularly laughing and crying in the wrong situations
• Feelings of sadness or depression
• Helplessness
• Hopelessness
• Irritability
• Changes in thinking patterns
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Frustration
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Loss of motivation
• Not caring what is happening around them, or what happens to them
Use these tips to help you manage these emotional effects in your elderly parent as they are recovering from stroke:
• Let your parent know that it is alright that they are dealing with difficult emotions and that it does not mean that there is something wrong with them, or that they are not handling the situation properly.
• Offer your support and encouragement so that they know that they are not alone and feel comfortable discussing what they are going through.
• Seek out a support group for your parent to participate in so that they can discuss what they are feeling and get advice and guidance from those who are going through the same things, or who have gone through the same things.
• Encourage your parent to use positive self-talk rather than allowing negativity to take over.
• Help them to make good decisions, such as staying active and using exercise or a meaningful activity as a way to cope with the feelings they are going through.
Starting home care for your elderly loved one can be an exceptional way to help your parent achieve and maintain a better quality of life as they age in place. By creating a schedule that is customized not just to your elderly loved one’s needs and challenges, but also to their individuality, goals, thoughts, and preferences, this care provider can help your parent to have the lifestyle that is right for them. An in-home senior care services provider can give your parent a highly personalized set of services tailored to helping them stay safe, healthy, comfortable, and secure, while also encouraging them to remain as independent, active, and engaged as possible. This care provider can also provide companionship and support to encourage better mental and emotional health and well-being throughout their later years, as well as reminders to help them remain compliant with their doctor’s instructions as they either work to reduce their risk of stroke or work toward recovery. If your parent has suffered a stroke, starting home care as soon as possible can help to create the environment of management, support, and healing that they need to comply with their doctor’s orders and focus on getting better.
http://brainhealth.strokeassociation.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/Impact-of-Stroke-Stroke-statistics_UCM_310728_Article.jsp#.WQZvL9Lyu01
If you or an aging loved one are considering homecare in River Oaks, TX, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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