After a stroke, a senior must adopt healthy habits to promote recovery and reduce the risk of a secondary stroke. Although an individual’s stroke care plan will be dependent on the severity of the stroke, families can help their senior loved ones prevent secondary strokes by following a few simple steps.
Determine What Caused the First Stroke
Did your loved one’s stroke happen because of atrial fibrillation or perhaps the thinning of an important blood vessel? Treatment will vary depending on the causative factors that triggered the first stroke, so schedule an appointment with your loved one’s primary care physician to determine the best care plan. Also, ask about other factors that may put your loved one at risk, such as elevated blood sugar, high cholesterol, or hypertension.
Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading in-home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.
Quit Bad Habits
This is especially true for cigarette smokers. The components of a cigarette can damage the heart and surrounding blood vessels. Prolonged smoking constricts major arteries and can significantly raise the risk of stroke. Alcohol consumption should also be ceased or at least moderated.
Redesign the Diet
If you’re helping with your loved one’s meal preparation, minimize the consumption of high-fat and high-glucose foods, including deep-fried treats like potato chips. Instead, fill the diet with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean cuts of meat like chicken or turkey. If your loved one is unable to prepare healthy meals according to dietary restrictions, consider hiring a professional caregiver who can assist with grocery shopping and nutritious meal preparation a few times a day or a few times a week.
For some families, caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, they can rely on professional respite care. Barrie, ON, Home Care Assistance is a trusted name in respite and hourly care. Our caregivers are available around the clock to assist seniors with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and much more, allowing families the time they need to focus on other important responsibilities or just take a break.
Attend Follow-Up Appointments
Make it a priority to attend any scheduled follow-up appointments to check your loved one’s blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol on a regular basis. Early detection of abnormal increases in any of these three metrics can reduce the risk of a secondary stroke.
Establish a Strong Support Group
Families and close friends should be involved with the lifestyle changes their loved one is about to undergo. Supportive behaviour further reinforces the changes and makes for an easier transition.
Caring for a senior loved one 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 Barrie 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. To hire a professionally trained caregiver for your loved one, call us at 647-970-3803 today.