Keeping Your Senior Safe at Home After a Stroke

A stroke is a frightening and life-altering experience for seniors and their families. Depending on the severity of the brain attack, a stroke survivor may face difficulties with mobility, vision, speech, swallowing, emotions, cognitive functioning, and performing everyday tasks. When this occurs, it’s essential to have a home care plan to keep your senior safe.

After discharge from a hospital, a post-stroke plan may include hiring a non-medical in-home personal caregiver to provide long-term assistance with daily tasks such as:

• Bathing
• Grooming
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Light housekeeping
• Meal preparation
• Physical therapy exercises assistance
• Cognitive support (i.e., games, puzzles, etc.)

Personal care providers are different than home health providers, who typically offer short-term medical care during brief home visits under the supervision of a physician.

How Can Caregivers Help Stroke Survivors Stay Safe at Home?

Visiting Angels’ professional caregivers use stroke-specific training to understand signs and symptoms while providing non-medical, comfort-focused dedicated support. Caregivers can contribute to senior safety by:

• Reducing the risk of falling
  After a stroke, seniors may experience weakness and paralysis in their arms or legs. These mobility limitations — especially when combined with extreme fatigue during recovery — can increase the chances of a fall or household accident.
  
  Visiting Angels’ caregivers can assist older adults as they move around the home, navigate stairs or the bathroom, and get into and out of bed. A Fall Prevention Program helps caregivers and care coordinators identify areas of concern in the home and recommend modifications to reduce fall risk.
• Assisting with household tasks
  Stroke survivors may have physical or cognitive issues that prevent them from driving or managing tasks such as laundry, cooking, shopping, or housekeeping. Visiting Angels’ caregivers can provide or arrange transportation to appointments, run errands, prepare meals, and handle light household duties.
• Giving reminders for medication, exercise, and appointments
  Your loved one’s post-stroke care may involve taking medications, performing physical or occupational therapy exercises at home, and/or attending medical appointments critical to recovery and long-term health. Although Visiting Angels’ caregivers cannot provide medical care, they can remind seniors when it’s time to take medication, exercise, or prepare for home health or in-person medical visits.
• Following dietary recommendations
  Difficulties in eating and swallowing can happen following a stroke. To avoid choking and other complications, a senior may have to temporarily or permanently follow a special diet. Due to medication interactions, seniors may also need to avoid or limit certain foods.
  
  A Visiting Angels’ caregiver can prepare foods per a prescribed diet and support older adults during mealtimes, so they receive the necessary nutrition. An in-home caregiver can also remind seniors of speech therapy appointments and encourage them to practice prescribed speech and swallowing exercises.
• Watching for signs of a second stroke
  Nearly 1 in 4 strokes occur in people who have had a previous stroke, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Statistics show that stroke patients who arrive at the emergency room within three hours of their first symptom have less disability three months into recovery than those who received delayed care.
  
  Visiting Angels’ caregivers can identify signs of a second stroke and call dial 911 for help if necessary — which could save a loved one’s life. A caregiver can also direct paramedics to a senior’s emergency medical file that contains vital health and medical information for paramedics and hospital staff.

Reduce Hospital Readmission

When a loved one has suffered a stroke, professional senior care services can help significantly. In-home professional caregivers will support stroke survivors and reduce stress for family caregivers. Visiting Angels provides a “Ready, Set, Go Home” program that helps seniors successfully transition home after hospitalization through a customized approach that begins at the hospital. The program also includes home visits to promote a safe recovery by lowering the risk of hospital readmissions related to falls and other accidents.

If your loved one needs in-home care following a stroke, Visiting Angels’ case managers are available to discuss the care required, set up a free in-home consultation, and work on a care plan with you.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our at-home living assistance, senior companion support, in-home respite care, personal care, live-in and 24-hour home care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and in-home elder care services in Brookline, Watertown, Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities in Massachusetts. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can significantly impact your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

How Much Home Care Does My Senior Loved One Need?

When your senior loved one chooses to age in place, it’s essential to take proactive steps to keep them safe, comfortable, healthy, and happy. For many families, hiring professional in-home care services is the best solution. But how much care does your loved one need?

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides in-home care services with flexible schedules depending on the level of need. We offer customized hours to suit the needs of seniors and their families. Professional caregivers fill in gaps — providing care only when a senior needs it, so families don’t have to pay unnecessary home care costs. Clients and families can add, remove, or adjust hours as needed.

Popular Home Care Options

RESPITE CARE

Respite care is typically provided hourly to give family members a break from caregiving duties. It can cover evenings, weekends, holidays, and regular business hours. Respite care can be customized to unique circumstances, providing short-term, temporary care as needed, which can come in handy during a family vacation or other personal obligations and responsibilities.

HOURLY CARE
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s caregivers can provide support on a routine, hourly basis, enabling seniors and families to customize the length and frequency of visits. For example, your loved one may need help in the morning, assistance with their evening meals, or a bedtime routine a few days a week. Maybe they need two full days of care per week or during the weekend. Whatever their needs, an hourly plan offers flexibility.

FULL-TIME CARE

A full-time home care option is available for seniors who need 9-to-5 assistance on weekdays. This 40-hour-a-week service is ideal for multigenerational households that need senior care during the day when family members are at work or school.

24/7 CARE

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s caregivers provide around-the-clock support for seniors, offering a reliable alternative to nursing home care. 24/7 care is also ideal when families live far away or cannot provide consistent in-person caregiving support. Seniors receive one-on-one attention from several caregivers who work 8- or 12-hour shifts. This schedule ensures a senior’s routine is not disrupted.

OVERNIGHT CARE

Many older adults benefit from having a trusted caregiver with them overnight — particularly if they are living with dementia, insomnia, or experiencing anxiety or loneliness at night. Caregivers can assist seniors with bedtime habits, offer companionship, and provide a sense of security during the overnight hours.

Home Care Cost Savings

When considering senior care options, it’s important to remember that an in-home personal caregiver may be able to meet your loved one’s care needs for a fraction of the cost of full-time nursing home care. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s clients only pay for services when they need them, which provides significant savings compared to 24/7 care in a nursing or assisted-living facility.

If you think in-home personal care might be the right choice for your loved one, schedule a no-cost, no-obligation in-home care assessment. A case manager will visit you at home to learn your unique needs and then design a personalized care plan for you. We provide home care for seniors with dementia, companionship, light housekeeping, meal preparation, medicine reminders, dressing and grooming assistance, and much more for a loved one living alone.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation!

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our personal home care, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, companion care, respite support, transitional aid, and home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Newton, Watertown, Brookline, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities.

As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have received the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their CNA jobs and HHA jobs.

Things You Should Consider Before Changing Professional Caregivers

 Finding the right professional caregiver for your senior loved one often takes time, adjustment, and patience. In the current caregiver crunch, when there are more HHA and CNA caregiver jobs than qualified caregivers, having a compatible and competent caregiver is valuable. But your loved one’s needs may change over time, perhaps due to memory loss, a stroke, or a new illness, and their current caregiver may not be suitable for the assistance needed. You may begin to consider requesting a new caregiver. Navigating a caregiver change requires honest communication between family members and your care manager and articulated expectations from family members. Here are a few things you should consider.

Key Questions to Ask Before You Change Caregivers

If you are contemplating a caregiver change, first ask yourself if you have given the home caregiver enough time with your loved one.

Take time to talk with your loved one’s professional caregiver and the home care services provider to share your concerns. They may be able to help navigate the issues.

Also, be honest with each other and yourselves. A few fundamental questions to ask yourself and your loved one:

• What is missing? For example, does your loved one need a different type of care or attention? Is there a personality conflict?
• What makes you or your loved one uncomfortable?
• Are there changes the professional caregiver could make? And if so, make a list and share that with the caregiver and provider.

If you can’t resolve the issue with the caregiver and your home care agency. An experienced agency will work to see if they can provide another caregiver more suited to your needs.

Before You Make a Change

If the current provider cannot meet your family’s needs or if your family isn’t comfortable staying with the agency, it is best to do your research before you make a switch.

Some questions you should be prepared to answer:

• Did you sign a contract or an agreement? If so, read it in full to understand your obligations.
• Are you required to give notice? If so, how much notice are you required to provide?
• Are you required to provide written notice?
• Will there be administrative or exit fees for terminating the contract or agreement?
• Will a caregiver change affect any insurance that may be covering payments? And if so, how much time will be needed to make those changes?

Also, please keep in mind federal regulations require home health care agencies to be more responsive to their clients or risk losing Medicaid or Medicare funding. While it remains unknown when the changes will be fully implemented, it seems clear that new rules will continue to focus on the rights of the client and families.

Going Forward with the Change

You and your loved one should never feel pressured to stay with a professional home health aide who does not meet your needs or an agency with which you remain uncomfortable.

If you and your loved one decide that changing home care agencies is the best option for everyone, be sure you have vetted a new home care provider before ending your agreement with your current provider. Here are the critical first steps to follow to help you:

• Provide adequate notice to your current agency. Inform them you will no longer require their services (again, refer above to important notes about the contract you signed).
• Alert your insurance or bank to ensure payments continue on time, so there is no lag in caregiving.

Remember, too, to be patient as your loved one adjusts to a new professional caregiver. Sometimes, it just takes time. And sometimes, there’s a better fit. Either way, the critical thing to realize is that this is a problem that a superior home care agency like Visiting Angels can solve. Contact us today for a free in-home consultation.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our at-home living assistance, companion care, respite support, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their CNA jobs and HHA jobs.

Person-Centered Caregiving vs. Task-Centered Care

 Your senior loved one may have hearing loss, limited mobility, an inability to manage household chores, or health complications. It makes sense that as you work to arrange care, managing straightforward tasks is top of mind: hearing aids, a walker, help with dishes — check, check, check. These are essential tasks to achieve.

But many older people suffer from loneliness, depression, and isolation, too. Loneliness has been shown to precipitate declining health and can inhibit independence and mobility. That problem is not as easily solved. Loneliness can be an issue even for seniors who are not living alone. As you approach care options, there are multiple paths — primarily, task-centered care vs. person-centered professional caregiving — and it’s essential to consider the strengths, weaknesses, and outcomes in choosing a route for your loved one.

1. What is Task-Centered (or Task Management) Care?

Task-centered care is a social work practice frequently used in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities to accomplish measurable, specific goals quickly. A target condition is identified by a medical professional, along with steps to get there. For instance, in a hospital, the target might be discharge, and the steps would be the checklist to get there. A goal is accomplished, and the project is over.

A problem with task-centered care is that the person affected is often not even involved. A study by BMC Geriatrics of the effects of person-centered care notes the many problems with the task-centered model. Care Is “primarily granted and delivered based on physical and functional needs, while psychosocial needs and quality of life requirements (quality of life) have been given less priority [causing a] gap between needs and services, between expectations and experiences, which may lead to expressions of dissatisfaction.”

Furthermore, the study cites other findings that have demonstrated how “a trusting relationship between the older person and professional staff is essential to enable shared decision making to facilitate the older person’s autonomy and sense of being respected.”

The research also finds another major issue with task-centered care, particularly in nursing homes: keeping good staff. Citing many previous reports, the authors note that “when it comes to nursing home services, a growing crisis has been described with high turnover rates and challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled care professionals. In addition, employees have reported experiences of dissatisfaction and frustration with work, citing a stressful and hectic environment, increasing demands for efficiency, not having sufficient time to converse, provide the “little extras” and support in the psychosocial domain.”

But it doesn’t have to be this way, the authors say, and person-centered care is the solution:

“Other studies in aged care have shown positive results from implementing a person-centered approach. For example, a report that implemented person-centered care in rehabilitation treatment resulted in functional improvements and higher satisfaction. Also, […] increased involvement in care resulted in lower costs, higher physical function, and shorter stays in hospital after hip fractures [and] person-centered care of older people with dementia can prevent and reduce agitation and depression.”

2. The Importance of an Interpersonal Connection

While task-centered assistance can provide the absolute bare minimum of care your loved one needs, a professional caregiver offers that interpersonal connection that supplements task-centered aide essentially and exponentially. A professional caregiver offers holistic care to ensure the emotional and social needs of your loved one — needs that may not fall under task-centered care — are also met.

While the above study demonstrates the danger of isolation, it can be helpful to consider real anecdotes, too. For example: In the aftermath of a stroke, an 86-year-old Florida woman, who lived most of the year alone, began receiving regular visits from a physical therapist and a nurse to aid in her recovery. Her family — nearby and closely involved in her care — found peace of mind in having their experience on hand and were thankful for some reprieve.

While her family anticipated a boost in her physical health, they didn’t expect what ended up being the most significant benefit: her absolute joy in having the caregivers regularly visit and the resulting immediate improvement in her mental health. The aging woman recovering from a stroke relished the conversations she’d have during the visits, what they worked on, a funny thing about so-and-so. It was a social side of her that her family hadn’t seen in years. And — despite family members having tried everything to get her to do simple exercises — she eagerly performed these tasks for her caregivers. She wanted to do her best for these new people in her life, in the way that one puts forth even extra energy and effort at the beginning of a friendship or relationship.

She was happy to be forging new connections and not to feel so isolated. Within weeks, she walked with energy around the house and completed tasks she hadn’t handled by herself in years.

Not every instance will play out the same way, of course. That stroke was a wake-up call and her expeditious treatment allowed for a full recovery. But this is far from the only example of professional caregivers making a drastic difference in the lives of those they visit. The regularity of a visitor, the conversation, the company to anticipate, the “new friend” — these things can defeat loneliness and boost the quality (and length) of one’s life.

The National Institutes of Health cites several studies demonstrating the adverse effects of social isolation in older adults — and not just mentally or emotionally. Per the NIH:

“Social relationships are consistently associated with biomarkers of health. Positive indicators of social well-being may be associated with lower levels of interleukin-6 in otherwise healthy people. Interleukin-6 is an inflammatory factor implicated in age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer. Social isolation constitutes a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality, especially in older adults” and “People who are lonely frequently have elevated systolic blood pressure.”

3. What Can a Professional Caregiver Do Differently?

Many older individuals are adamant about staying in their own homes. But as their health declines and the number of tasks they can no longer manage grows, the situation can become challenging. This is why many families turn to home health aides, who can help with grooming, household chores, exercise, taking medication, etc.

But in a much more universal way, a professional caregiver can help by keeping loneliness and depression at bay and providing bright spots in what tend to be otherwise long and empty days that stretch into weeks and months. At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, Your loved one is matched with a caregiver they connect with, who they look forward to seeing. Their companion gives them energy, on top of the benefits inherent in being in their own home, which lets them maintain essential self-respect and a sense of agency in being involved in their care plan. In a nursing home or assisted living facility, task management care is the common practice; it’s about checklists, the dedicated interpersonal aspect that seniors need is almost always missing.

A professional caregiver goes beyond a measurable task. They are not shuffled room to room, marking charts and moving right along. Their presence is consistent and long-term; they become a reliable conversation partner, as well as an aid in health, well-being, and day-to-day needs.

Loneliness is a serious health issue, and the companionship of a professional caregiver — someone who is focused on the person, not another list of tasks — can help stave off the isolation that leads to loneliness and depression.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency that has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for the elderly and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our at-home care, senior companion support, respite care, live-in and 24-hour assistance, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care providers can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

Helping Senior Loved Ones with Dementia

If you provide care for elderly loved ones with dementia, you most likely have witnessed their battle with memory loss and other cognitive limitations. It can be heart-wrenching to hear them forget family members and friends, fail to recall recent events, or talk about deceased loved ones who they believe are still alive.

You may be feeling helpless and discouraged, but there are strategies you can use to reduce stress, circumvent confusion, and maintain a healthy relationship with your aging loved one.

5 Ways to Cope with Dementia and Confusion

Dementia can cause your elderly loved ones to say outlandish things or become befuddled when out in public. You may feel embarrassed as they clumsily interact with neighbors, talk to store owners, or even chat with strangers.

Dealing with loved ones exhibiting dementia-related behavior, in private and public, can be disturbing. The following tips can help you manage tricky interactions caused by your senior’s illness:

Step into their reality

Seniors with dementia can find it hard to keep track of reality and memory or imagination. If you pull seniors with dementia into the “real world” by correcting them, you can sometimes cause more confusion, stress, fear, or even anger — which only worsens their symptoms.

Experts recommend, whenever possible, that you affirm and join your loved one’s reality. If your senior occasionally speaks as though they live in the past, keep the conversation going without correcting them as long as it is not causing them harm. For example, if your senior thinks it’s Saturday, but it’s Wednesday, there is no need to correct them – just let it go.

Use distractions and diversions

Experts encourage using situational distractions to help people with dementia stay calm and avoid worsening symptoms. For example, if telling your senior you are taking them for a medical checkup causes distress, you may tell them, instead, that you are going on a trip to the park and will stop for a doctor’s appointment on your way back.

You may also choose to distract your senior from topics that cause stress or if you find they are stuck repeating themselves. Changing the subject to the weather or asking them to assist with a simple task can help diffuse the situation. Assistance folding laundry or watering plants can help to shift their focus.

Some people may feel guilty about using therapeutic distractions or diversions, and that is perfectly normal. Just remember the goal is to make your loved one feel comfortable and find a balance that works for both of you.

Use brief explanations and gentle corrections

Sometimes, you may have to correct a confused senior. In situations like this, do so as gently and briefly as possible. Reduce confusion and other negative emotions by phrasing your corrections as suggestions. For example, you could say, “Why don’t we take a walk together?” instead of, “I can’t let you go out alone because you’ll get lost or fall.”

Be sure to use simple words and phrases that your loved one will recognize. Physical reminders, such as photographs, can also help gently reorient a senior with dementia when necessary.

Respond to feelings, not words

Ask yourself what emotion might be behind your loved one’s words. If they are lashing out, perhaps it’s because they are afraid. In this case, you can reassure them that everything is okay and perhaps offer them a hug or hold their hand. It is important to respond calmly at all times.

Take care of yourself

Although following these tips can help reduce stress for you and your senior, caring for a senior with dementia can still be very demanding. Remember that taking care of yourself is essential to avoid caregiver burnout. If you find yourself hurt by comments your senior has made, try to remind yourself they aren’t doing it on purpose.

If you need additional support in caring for your elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or memory loss problems, consider hiring a Visiting Angels caregiver. We have partnered with leading dementia specialists to develop a series of dementia care certification programs. Basic dementia care training is available to all Visiting Angels caregivers, and many home health aides are certified in advanced dementia care protocols. Our Visiting Angels care coordinators are available to discuss your loved one’s needs during a free care consultation. Contact us today!

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high-caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our in-home senior care, respite care, elder companion care, live-in and 24-hour care, dementia and Alzheimer's care, transitional aid, and at-home living assistance services in Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Watertown, Wellesley, West Roxbury, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life.