Stroke Care

In-Home Care Portland

Stroke Care from Assisting Hands Home Care Portland

Strokes can sometimes be mild or severe or anywhere in between. We understand each stroke survivor is unique and their care is unique. This is why we work with a consortium of health team members to create a customized care plan specifically for your senior loved one.

Our goal for seniors who have had a stroke is to get to a point where they don’t require home care in Portland at all. We’ve had tremendous success in getting our stroke survivors to that end.

We understand caring for a stroke survivors requires consistency, patience, and perseverance. Here’s a sample of what Assisting Hands Home Care Portland’s stroke care looks like:

Encourage daily rehabilitation exercise

Many stroke survivors face difficulty with motor impairments after stroke. These motor skills need attention when the senior goes home. We can help your loved one recover by encouraging daily rehabilitation exercise to rewire the brain. Regular movement is the best remedy for stroke.

Focus on Independence, not pampering

If we see your loved one having difficulty doing something, we’ll help if he or she asks or if it’s absolutely necessary. Sometimes it’s considered tough love. Stroke survivors need to do things on their own to keep getting better. Don’t shortchange your loved one’s recovery by doing things he or she can do independently.

Work with social workers or case managers

Social workers and case managers are an essential part of the stroke recovery team. We’ll coordinate your loved one’s care and share his or her progress and setbacks with them. They can provide you with critical information about things like home modifications and insurance coverage after discharge.

Work with an Occupational Therapist for Home Modification Recommendations

Stroke survivors are at high risk of falling due to common balance problems or one-sided visual neglect after a stroke. Making home modifications, like installing grab bars and nonslip mats, as well as decreasing clutter in the home, can increase your loved one’s safety. We also provide a home safety inspection with our free consultation.

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Overnight Care Portland

Work with Physical Therapists for exercise reminders

We’re not physical therapists, but we help significantly by providing exercise reminders and encouragement to maintain motivation during the recovery process.

Keep a Record of Side Effects from Medications

Most stroke survivors are put on multiple forms of medication that each serve a different purpose (for example, blood thinners, cholesterol control, etc.).

All medications come with side effects that should be carefully monitored.

It’s an excellent idea to keep a log of your loved one’s behavior and symptoms and keep track of any changes or problems. We take electronic notes so we can watch for any trends.

Keep pushing past the plateau

Most stroke survivors experience a plateau after the first 3 months of recovery. However, this slow down isn’t a sign recovery is stopping. Neurological changes stabilize after several months, but functional improvements are possible for a lifetime. The brain is capable of changing and healing decades after a stroke. We help stroke survivors push past the plateau and encourage them to see this as a sign to revamp their rehabilitation efforts.

Take Falls Very Seriously

It can be difficult for stroke survivors to get up off the floor, so falls should be taken very seriously. Having a caregiver with your loved one at home can prevent falls or at least have them be less serious.

Always ensure your loved one has sufficient mobility (enough to get back up) before ever being left alone.

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Manage Stroke Risks

Certain lifestyle behaviors can increase the risk of recurrent stroke. Make sure to keep your loved one’s blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and stress levels in check. Assisting Hands can take and monitor your loved one’s blood pressure and provide medication reminders to keep his or her health on an even keel.

Contact Us

For more answers to your questions, please give us a call directly at (781) 730-6972 and we’ll be happy to help!