Each year, almost 800,000 people suffer a stroke. They’re so common that on average a person in the U.S. has one every 40 seconds. Your dad had a stroke, but even knowing it’s common, it’s not helping ease your uncertainty. What are the next steps to take? Here are a few things to consider, and how 24-hour home care can help.
Listen to His Medical Team
The hospital your dad is in probably has a medical team working with him. He’ll have his primary doctors and nurses, but a respiratory therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and social worker are likely also helping out. Ask them as many questions as you can.
The social worker helps direct you to how to arrange the necessary services he’ll need like 24-hour home care, at-home physical therapists, and home health care. Use this help while you have it.
Ask Questions
Make sure you ask the right questions. You need to know what your dad’s prognosis is. Is he going to recover enough to regain mobility or is it very likely that he’ll need a wheelchair or walker for life? What adaptations is his home likely to need?
You’ll need to prepare his home for his return. A shower seat is one of the necessary changes. If he only has a bathtub/shower combination, he is going to need help getting in and out of the shower/tub. A sliding transfer seat is helpful for this.
Does your dad’s home have stairs? If so, he may need to have his bedroom and living area on the main floor. If he has stairs going into his home, he needs a ramp. It may be best to move him into a one-level ADA-compliant condo or apartment if he’s never going to regain full mobility.
He cannot drive for now. You or another caregiver has to be available to bring him to follow-up appointments, bring him shopping, or run errands for him.
If he cannot lift a fork or use a knife, someone has to feed him. He needs people to cook his meals, prepare his snacks, and get his beverages. He may need you to hold his cup while he drinks from a straw.
Sometimes, stroke recovery is possible. If your dad is able to regain full mobility, he’s not going to need caregivers for the rest of his life. He just needs them for now. Start with 24-hour home care services and decrease the amount of help he gets as his strength returns.
You want to help your dad, but it’s not feasible to be with him 24/7. You need to work, and you need sleep. Work with a 24-hour home care agency to ensure he has around-the-clock assistance.
With 24-hour home care, your dad has a caregiver awake and ready to help out at all hours, even if you’re on vacation. Learn more about this service by talking to your dad’s medical team about his abilities after the stroke and then making a call.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm#:
If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-hour home care in Windsor, NC, please contact the caring staff at East Carolina Home Care today. Call (252) 335-1409.
Providing quality home care for seniors and families in and around Canton, Edenton, Ahoskie, South Mills, Moyock, Windsor, Plymouth, Manteo, Kill Devil Hills and Elizabeth City in North Carolina.
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