Recovering from a stroke can be a long road for many as they relearn how to use parts of their body. A stroke can damage the parts of the brain that communicate with the body, so it’s not uncommon for someone to need to learn how to walk again, use the stairs, get in and out of the tub, and so much more. Relearning these activities can increase a person’s risk of falling, which in turn could extend their recovery time if they are seriously injured in that fall.

If you are helping an elderly loved one recover after a stroke, or they are receiving post-stroke care, you’ll want to take special care to help them avoid falls.

Why Fall Risk Increases After a Stroke

Several common reasons increase the risk of falling after a stroke.

• Changes in sensory abilities. Your loved one may not be able to feel her environment as well with one side of her body, or interpret sensory input incorrectly.
• Altered cognitive ability. She might struggle with multitasking, such as carrying a plate of food while walking, or struggle with what sequence of movements is needed to get her in and out of the shower or to walk down some stairs.
• Loss of motor abilities. As she recovers, parts of her body may not be strong enough to hold her up, and muscles may become weakened. This can make a slight imbalance while standing result in a fall, in which she cannot catch herself.

Making Your Home Safe for Your Loved One After a Stroke

If your loved one is coming home with you to recover or if she already lives with you, you can help reduce the likelihood of a fall occurring by taking some safety precautions around the home that will prevent falls. Post stroke care providers can help along with these tips:

1. Increase lighting. Poorly lit areas make it difficult to see objects, which may lead to tripping or stumbling. Make sure all lightbulbs are working and consider adding in nightlights and hallway lights in case she needs to get up at night.
2. Remove tripping hazards. The floors should be regularly reviewed to make sure nothing has landed on the floor that may cause your loved one to slip or fall.
3. Add support to the bathroom. There are several ways to help prevent a fall in the bathroom. Handrails can offer something firm to hold onto, non-skid mats can prevent feet from slipping out, and a bench to sit on in the shower can let her rest as she showers if her muscles are weakened.
4. Provide a walker while at home. This can help her move from room to room more safely.
5. Check outside stairs and sidewalks for cracks, uneven surfaces, and divots that might lead to a fall.

Getting Assistance with Post Stroke Care Providers

If you need a break, and your loved one isn’t very mobile yet, make sure to have someone come in and stay with your loved one in case she needs to get somewhere else in the home. Providers who offer in-home post stroke care are trained in helping your loved one navigate the home safely.

Knowing they are there assisting with post stroke care lets you take care of other matters while being assured that your loved one won’t accidentally fall trying to do something on her own that she isn’t ready for.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Post Stroke Care in La Mesa, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aaron Home Care. (619) 880-5522

A Trusted Home Care Agency Serving La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, San Diego, UTC, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Coronado, Bonita, Eastlake, and the surrounding areas.

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Aaron Laney

President & Founder at Aaron Home Care

Aaron Laney truly has the heart and experience for the field of caregiving. He first began working with adults with disabilities in 1994 as a camp counselor in New York State, where he discovered that he had a talent for communicating with others who might not be able to care for themselves.

In 1999, Aaron was named Residential Program Manager of a group home for disabled adults in Arlington, Virgina. Here, he built a reputation for being compassionate with his clients and efficient in company operations. In the years that followed, Washington DC’s human services field went through unprecedented reform when the city was fined $11 million for the previously unchecked abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the very population it was supposed to protect. In 2005, Aaron was selected by a watchdog company to co-create and implement a monitoring system to safeguard and advocate for the system’s most vulnerable residents. This system is still in use today.

Aaron is now using his unique gifts and profound experience in the human service field to provide San Diego County Seniors with dependable, compassionate caregivers through Aaron Home Care.

He currently serves on the board of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council and is an active member of the Senior Advocate Network of San Diego.

Aaron Home Care is a member of the American Board of Home Care and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

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