Life can change quite a bit after a senior has a stroke. They may lose use of one hand, have trouble walking, or even be confined to a wheelchair. Doing tasks can take much longer than they once did. Not being able to do things for themselves can leave the older adult feeling depressed and useless. There are ways, though, that seniors can live more easily and still feel useful by using tricks and tips designed by experts specifically for people who have had a stroke, like these 4 below.
#1: Modify Cleaning Tasks
Cleaning in the traditional way can be impossible post-stroke due to mobility problems or weakness. However, many tasks can be modified so that the older adult can continue to contribute to completing household tasks. For example, splitting tasks into several steps that can be done over a couple days can help. When doing laundry, the American Stroke Association suggests that stroke survivors do the job over two days. They could gather the dirty laundry and load it into the washer in the evening, then run the washer and move the laundry to the dryer the next morning. After folding it, they can let it sit until later in the day before putting it away. Another task that can be modified is dusting. Older adults can use a long-handled duster and sit while they dust.
#2: Adapted Dental Care
Even brushing their own teeth can be difficult when hands don’t work well. A small toothbrush handle is hard to hold when grip is compromised. Try putting a hole in a tennis ball and putting the handle of the toothbrush through it to give the senior something larger to hold. Or, you can wrap a washcloth around the handle and secure it with rubber bands.
#3: Use Adaptive Devices for Dressing
There are many adaptive devices available for all aspects of life, including getting dressed. There are sock aids that let someone with the use of only one hand put on their own socks without having to bend down. There are also button hooks that allow them to button their own clothes. An occupational therapist can help determine which devices will work best for your older family member.
#4: Use Cardholders
Seniors can continue to enjoy playing their favorite card games with friends and family by using a cardholder. You can purchase them or make your own using a piece of wood with a narrow slit cut out of it.
Home care can also help seniors to live better following a stroke. Home care providers can assist with cleaning the house, but still allow the older adult to participate as much as they are able to. Home care providers can also help the older adult to take better care of themselves by assisting with bathing, grooming, and dressing. Home care providers can also cook healthy meals for seniors who are unable to cook for themselves, or can help with cooking, again letting the senior do as much as they want to or are able to.
Sources
http://strokeconnection.strokeassociation.org/Spring-2016/Tips-for-Household-Cleaning-After-Stroke/
http://strokeconnection.strokeassociation.org/Winter-2019/Post-stroke-Dental-Care/
http://strokeconnection.strokeassociation.org/Summer-2017/Working-on-Fine-Motor-Skills/
https://bottomlineinc.com/health/caregiving/tools-and-tips-when-just-one-hand-is-working
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Centennial, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Denver. Call today: (303) 756-9322.
