Tips for a Safe Concussion Recovery
If your parent has suffered from a concussion due to a fall or blow to his head, recovery can mostly take place at home, but will need to be a slow process as he heals from his injury. In most cases, recovery takes about 7-10 days but if you don’t follow the doctor’s recommendations, it could take longer. Knowing ahead of time what you should be providing as he recovers will help you both be prepared and follow the directions of his doctor for a quick and healthy recovery.
- Avoid unnecessary movement of the neck and head. While normal movement is just fine, your parent will want to
Home Health Care Upper Darby, PA: Concussion Recovery
not participate in any activities that may cause him to have to swing his head quickly. One activity that he’ll want to stay away from is driving. If your parent needs rides anywhere, ask his home health care provider or a family member to provide him a ride.
- Get plenty of rest. Your parent should plan on no highly physical activities for at least a week. If your parent is a regular jogger or runner, have him stick with walks as he recovers.
- Take any medications the doctor provides. If your parent’s doctor has prescribed some pain reducers or other medications, it’s important your parent takes what he needs but not too much. Your home health care provider can help with medicine administration if needed to keep your parent on track for the right dosage.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can make recovery take longer and can cause its own side effects which include headaches. Having a large pitcher of water or water bottle near where your parent will spend most of his time recovering will encourage him to stay hydrated.
- Reduce screen time. Eyestrain caused by looking at bright screen too long can compound the after effects of a concussion. Your parent should try to limit the amount of time he spends looking at his phone, a laptop, and even the television. To help promote better sleep as he recovers, he should avoid all screen time for at least two hours before he goes to sleep.
- Avoid bright lights and loud noises. While your parent is recovering is not the time to have all of the grandchildren visit. He needs to reduce his exposure to loud noises or bright lights. This will give his body time to heal and prevent light and sound sensitivity that often comes with a concussion from getting worse.
- Eat foods rich in protein and omega-3s. Amino acids that are in protein have been shown to help improve some of the cognitive symptoms of a concussion. Omega-3 fatty acids are also beneficial to recovering cognitive function. Have someone like a family member or your home health care provider help prepare meals that contain meat, fatty fish, nuts and legumes to boost your parent’s intake of these beneficial nutrients.
- Finally, be patient. If your parent is a go-getter and likes to take care of himself, it’ll take discipline for him to give his body enough rest to recover completely. Having a good team and rules set up for him will help him succeed in following all the doctor’s recommendations.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Health Care in Upper Darby, PA please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Owner & Administrator at True Direct Home Health Care
True Direct HHC owner and administrator, Perry C. Doc Alleva has been in the health care community for over 10 years as a therapy solutions provider, as well as a home care services coordinator. He has extensive experience in caring for the disabled and the surgical acute, sub-acute, and rehab population. Rooted in his home-town city of Philadelphia, with strong ties to it's vast neighborhoods and communities, he's now focusing all his energies towards innovating the home health care agency's role in providing the essential care needed from individual to the family throughout the community.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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