Most recurrent strokes and hospital readmissions occur due to preventable situations, such as poor care and failing to follow discharge instructions. However, you can enhance your senior loved one’s recovery process by making necessary modifications to his or her home, diet, and exercise routines and providing tools that make daily life easier, such as communication tools. Take a look at some of the communication devices an older adult can use while recovering from a stroke.
Smartphones
Mobile devices provide an excellent way for seniors to communicate with family and friends as well as other individuals who live far away. Seniors can also access social media apps to chat with other users. Having a mobile device nearby provides the ability to call the police or the doctor when an emergency occurs. If your parent is experiencing difficulty with speech after a stroke, he or she can use a smartphone to send text messages or emails by typing on the keyboard of the mobile device.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
Intercoms
Caregiving can be challenging for families, especially as a loved one recovers from a stroke. Being in the same place as your loved one at all times isn’t possible. There will be times when you need to go into the kitchen to prepare meals, or you may be in the living room watching television while your loved one is in the bedroom asleep.
An intercom allows you to communicate with your loved one from different areas of the house. Your loved one can also push a button on the device if he or she would like to ask for your assistance. Most modern intercoms are wireless and can be moved from room to room.
Security Monitoring Devices
After a stroke, moving around may be difficult. The odds of a fall increase until full mobility is regained. If your loved one has an accident and no one is there in time to offer assistance, his or her stress levels could increase, increasing the risk of a recurrent stroke. However, having a security monitoring system in place could allow your parent’s home to be watched around the clock. If your loved one does fall, the security company’s representatives can alert you and the authorities immediately, allowing your loved one to receive medical treatment. Most security companies also provide communication devices seniors can use in case of emergencies. These devices typically alert officials with the push of a button.
Having a caregiver close by can give your loved one even greater peace of mind. If your senior loved one needs hourly or live-in care, Rocklin Home Care Assistance can help. Our caregivers can assist with exercise and mobility, prepare nutritious meals, provide timely medication reminders, and help with a wide array of other important daily tasks.
Speech Tablets
After a stroke, a senior may have difficulty speaking, understanding, reading, and writing. The good news is there are speech tablets that make communication easier for seniors and their caregivers. These tools are considered alternative communication devices, and they can reduce frustration and confusion when seniors are trying to communicate with their family and friends. This could increase stroke survivors’ safety and motivate them to interact with others more despite the language issues encountered after their strokes.
These devices can stimulate cognition and make communication easier for senior stroke survivors, and so can hiring a trained in-home caregiver. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality in-home care. Rocklin families trust Home Care Assistance to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably. If your senior loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737.