Adapting to Life at Home After a Stroke

For stroke survivors, there truly is no place like home when it comes to recovery. Many families assume that a loved one who’s suffered a stroke is destined to long-term care in a facility; but To The Rescue wants to assure you that recovery at home is not only possible, it can allow for optimum recovery.

It can, without a doubt, seem daunting to return home from the hospital following a stroke. Depending on the severity of the stroke, a number of adaptations may be required to safely maneuver around the home and perform daily activities of living. The following checklist can help make the transition easier.

• First, perform a safety assessment of the home. Viewing each room through the lens of stroke recovery, perform a thorough inventory of areas in which adaptations will be required. Check all walking paths both within and outside of the home for tripping hazards, including throw rugs, uneven pavements, and low furniture or other obstacles. To The Rescue can help with this assessment to ensure no stone is left unturned in optimizing safety.
• Next, confirm accessibility. If the stroke survivor’s home is not already equipped with accessibility devices such as handrails in the bathroom near the toilet and tub, ramps or electric stair lifts, sufficient space to maneuver a wheelchair or walker, modified countertops and table height, etc., now’s the time to arrange to have items such as these taken care of. Again, To The Rescue is available to assist.
• Finally, arrange for care. Hiring a professional in-home caregiver from a reputable agency, such as To The Rescue, helps foster recovery by providing mobility assistance, preparing healthy meals, providing medication reminders, running errands and offering escorted transportation to medical appointments, and more. Family members can quickly experience burnout when trying to manage care alone. Partnering with a trusted care provider allows both the stroke survivor and his or her loved ones to better manage the challenges of recovery.

In addition to non-medical home care services, To The Rescue also offers a full range of skilled care assistance, including licensed nurses, home health aides, and even speech, occupational and physical therapy – all delivered right in the comfort of home.

Contact us at 720-851-2100 in Colorado, or 319-826-6068 in Iowa, to learn more about our in-home stroke recovery care and other services available to older adults and those with developmental disabilities, and learn how we can help enhance quality of life, increase opportunities for socialization, and improve overall wellbeing.