No one wants to get the call that their parent had a stroke. However, you’re in that situation. Your mom had a stroke and is in the ICU. You get to the hospital and learn she’s had the clot-busting medication, but she has a long road to recovery. Her medical team is advising you to take the steps now to make sure she’s set up with the help such as senior care, she’ll need once she goes home. Where do you start?

Someone to Help With Personal Care and Toileting

A stroke often impacts mobility and motor skills. Ask the doctor if your mom will regain use of the arm and leg on the side of the body that’s affected.

It can take months for your mom to regain the ability to walk, lift an item, or hold a spoon or fork. Until physical and occupational therapy helps her with motor skills and mobility, she’s going to need a lot of help showering, getting dressed, and completing skincare routines.

When it comes to oral care, your mom needs someone to brush and floss her teeth. She’s also going to need someone to help get on the toilet and clean up after.

Someone to Cook Meals, Prepare Snacks, and Get Drinks

Your mom will not be able to cook meals. She might be able to shop for groceries if she has someone available to drive her to the store and accompany her as she shops. She’s going to struggle to chop ingredients, lift pots and pans, and clean the kitchen.

She needs a senior home care aide to cook meals, prepare snacks, and clean up after. She needs someone to bring her drinks, preferably in a cup with a straw, and help her eat. It’s not likely that your mom will be able to hold a spoon or fork at first.

Someone to Drive Her Around

After a stroke, your mom’s doctors will tell her she cannot drive. She needs to have someone available to drive her to medical appointments and when running errands.

Someone to Clean Her Home

Your mom may be able to do small tasks like fold her clothes, but she’s not going to be able to manage much of her housework. Her caregiver can vacuum, dust, and tidy up. It’s also helpful to have a caregiver change the sheets and towels.

Someone to Do the Laundry

Going up and down the stairs to the laundry room isn’t going to be easy for your mom. Instead, hire senior care aides to wash and dry her towels, clothing, and bed linens. When they’re dry, the caregiver can put them away for your mom.

Someone to Run Errands

Finally, make sure a caregiver is available to run errands for your mom. Tasks like prescription refills, package notices that require someone to pick up a box at the local post office, and grocery pick-ups are helpful for someone after a stroke.

As you better understand your mom’s needs after her stroke, make sure she has the support needed every day. Call a senior home care agency to schedule these and other necessary services.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Mountain View, CA, and the surrounding area, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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