A stroke can have a significant influence on a senior’s movement, speech, and cognitive abilities. Recovery following a stroke varies from person to person, and the rehabilitation process is critical to regaining as much independence as possible. For many seniors, therapy is an important component of the healing process. The good news is that seniors aging in place can get the therapies they need with the help of skilled nursing.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is frequently the first step in stroke rehabilitation. A stroke can impair muscle strength, balance, and coordination, making it difficult for seniors to accomplish everyday tasks like walking, standing, or even sitting up. Physical therapy can benefit seniors in the following ways:
- Regain Strength and Mobility: Stroke victims may lose control of some areas of their bodies, resulting in muscle weakness or paralysis, particularly on one side. Physical therapy focuses on strengthening muscles, restoring balance, and relearning motions, allowing seniors to regain their mobility over time.
- Improve Coordination and Balance: After a stroke, falls are a typical concern because balance can be impacted. Skilled nursing helps seniors increase stability and minimize their risk of falling by introducing them to exercises that improve balance and coordination.
- Retrain the Body: Many physical therapy sessions concentrate on functional motions like walking, standing from a seated posture, or moving from a bed to a chair. These exercises help seniors regain the ability to do daily chores more easily.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps seniors who have had a stroke gain the skills they need for daily life, in contrast to physical therapy, which focuses on movement and mobility. For instance, following a stroke, many seniors have difficulty dressing, bathing, cooking, or writing. Occupational therapy can help with this in the following ways:
- Improve Fine Motor Skills: A stroke can impair the ability to use hands and fingers properly, making tasks like buttoning a shirt or using a utensil more difficult. Skilled nursing can introduce occupational therapy activities to improve fine motor skills and dexterity.
- Adapt Daily Activities: Occupational therapists help seniors modify their environment or adapt to everyday responsibilities. This could include training them to use adaptive tools like a long-handled reacher, utensil grips, or other devices that make daily tasks easier and safer.
Speech Therapy
Many stroke survivors have speech and language impairments, as a stroke can also damage the muscles required for speaking and swallowing. For these reasons, seniors might need speech therapy. Speech therapists are instrumental in helping seniors regain their ability to talk either verbally or nonverbally, depending on the situation. Therapy may also focus on improving vocabulary, speech articulation, and sentence structure.
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is another common condition that may occur after a stroke. Unfortunately, it can lead to malnutrition or choking hazards. Speech therapists can teach seniors exercises to strengthen the muscles used in swallowing, as well as make recommendations for eating and drinking safely.
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are just a few therapies seniors might need after a stroke. Each therapy they receive focuses on a certain area of healing, such as recovering movement and strength or improving communication. With the support of skilled nursing and a strong therapy plan, many seniors can make considerable progress and continue to live productive lives.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Skilled Nursing in Encinitas, CA, please contact the caring staff at La Jolla Nurses Homecare today. Call (858) 454-9339
La Jolla Nurses Homecare is a top provider of home care services in San Diego, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carmel Valley, Point Loma, Bankers Hill, Mission Hills, Kensington, Coronado, University City, Pacific Beach, and all of San Diego County.
Sources:
- https://www.stroke.org/en/help-and-support/for-family-caregivers/15-things-caregivers-should-know-after-a-loved-one-has-had-a-stroke
- https://www.webmd.com/stroke/rehab-stroke
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stroke/stroke-recovery-timeline
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