After experiencing strokes, seniors are more susceptible to isolation, both physically and socially, and it’s a proven fact that isolation contributes to early mortality, depression, and illness. There are things family members can do to keep a senior loved one happy, healthy, and social. When your loved one is ready, use these tips to help him or her stay as socially active as possible.
Make Transportation Available
The inability of a senior to get out of the house is a primary cause of isolation. If your loved one is mobile but unable to drive, help him or her learn to use the public transportation system or utilize home care services to ensure he or she has transportation to social gatherings and appointments.
Reinforce Spiritual Values
Seniors who attend religious services live longer on average and benefit from the social opportunities a church family offers. Many churches offer transportation for those who need it as well as active senior groups that meet regularly for meals, shows, and holiday parties.
A home caregiver can help you closely monitor your loved one for signs of depression and social withdrawal while recovering after a stroke. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional in-home care, Assisting Hands Home Care should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults address their health issues and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years.
Find Classes for Seniors
Local community centers, community colleges, and public libraries offer a variety of classes, ranging from painting to dancing. A series of classes, called “sequential learning,” gives older adults something to look forward to and promotes mental and physical health.
Volunteer
Volunteering contributes to both physical and mental health as well as a sense of wellbeing, regardless of age. Encourage your loved one to share his or her unique gifts and perspectives on life with others. For instance, your loved one might enjoy rocking babies in the preemie ward of a hospital, making stuffed animals for children in a shelter, or donating time to the local soup kitchen.
Provide the Necessary Tools
Older adults who don’t have the necessary tools to overcome physical barriers after strokes are often the first to become isolated. Using smartphones or tablets is a great way senior stroke survivors can communicate. Seniors simply need to turn on the devices and use the keyboards to type messages using only a single finger.
Mobile devices also allow stroke survivors to send text messages to friends and family members. This increased ability to communicate with loved ones gives stroke survivors the support and reassurance they need to prevent isolation.
In addition to communication tools, make sure your loved one has whatever else he or she needs to be an active participant in the world, such as physical and speech therapy, hearing aids, a walker, or even a caregiver who can help with all the basics of daily living.
The type of home care Fort Lauderdale seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. We are a trusted provider of respite and 24-hour care, and we also offer specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care for seniors.
Encourage Physical Activity
There’s great benefit to group exercise programs. It doesn’t matter if the class is low-impact exercise like swimming or walking—loneliness and isolation are greatly reduced when older adults share time together. The local community center is a good source for group activities such as these.
The recovery period following a stroke may at times become physically and emotionally overwhelming for you and your loved one. Recovering from a stroke, managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and a variety of other health-related situations can make it difficult for a senior to continue living at home without someone there to help. Fort Lauderdale, FL, live-in care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of a live-in caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place. If you need professional care for your loved one, Assisting Hands Home Care is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today.
