Self-care

Self-care challenges include bathing, dressing, and eating.  These challenges could be due to:

  • A lack of strength which can make it hard to do things like dress yourself, get in and out of the bath or shower, or move around your home.
  • A lack of energy or stamina which can make it hard to finish all of the things you need or want to do in a day.
  • A lack of balance, which can make it difficult to complete self-care tasks safely.
  • A lack of motivation, which can be due to physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges.

Treatment involves overcoming these challenges:

  • The treatments for weakness described earlier can help you build the needed strength.
  • The treatments for fatigue described above can help you conserve your energy so you can complete all of your self-care tasks.
  • An occupational therapist can suggest tools like grab handles that will make getting in and out of the bathtub or shower easier.
  • A speech-language pathologist can help if you have trouble eating due to difficulties swallowing.

Other Rehabilitation Therapies

  • A dietitian can help you create a menu that is healthy and tasty to keep you eating properly.
  • If you are facing a lack of motivation, a social worker can explore that with you and suggest some ways to overcome it.