A sudden condition like Bell’s Palsy strikes can be overwhelming and disruptive to daily life. Characterized by temporary facial paralysis, this condition can affect simple tasks like smiling, eating, or even closing an eyelid.
While Bell’s Palsy often resolves on its own within weeks or months, managing the symptoms can be challenging. Home care assistance can play a vital role in helping your loved one stay comfortable and maintain their independence during recovery.
From medication reminders to assistance with daily activities, home care assistance providers offer the support needed to navigate this temporary condition easily.
What is Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s Palsy is a condition where the muscles on one side of the face suddenly weaken and can no longer perform as they should. The facial nerves that control muscles on one side of the face are damaged, which then causes one side of your face to droop. It is usually a short-term condition and will only last a few weeks to a few months, clearing up just as mysteriously as it appeared.
Bell’s Palsy Symptoms and Who is More Likely to Get It
Anyone can develop Bell’s Palsy at any age. Since it is believed to start from the damage that leads to swelling and irritation of a facial nerve, it is often linked to a viral infection. It may be linked to the herpes viruses that cause cold sores (herpes simplex) and shingles (herpes zoster). Those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity are somewhat more likely to develop it.
Common symptoms of Bell’s Palsy include:
- The inability to make certain facial expressions like smiling or winking
- Mild weakness or total paralysis of half the face that comes on within hours
- Drooling
- Loss of taste
- Pain on the affected side of the face and head
- One eye excessively watering or becoming extremely dry
- Increased sensitivity to sound
Home Treatment for Your Loved One with Bell’s Palsy
Since there isn’t a cure, those with Bell’s palsy often play the waiting game as they wait for symptoms to subside. Some ways to make your loved one more comfortable during this waiting period include:
- Make sure he takes his anti-inflammatory medications, such as Corticosteroids, to reduce the swelling of the facial nerve and allow the muscles to start working again.
- Offer pain relief medications as well if he is uncomfortable.
- Encourage him to do the physical therapy exercises he will be shown to help relax the facial muscles.
- Apply moist heat to the affected areas to help relieve pain
- If an eye is affected, offer to give him lubricating eye drops to keep it from drying out. He should also try to wear sunglasses during the day and an eye patch at night to protect his affected eye from the light.
If Your Loved One Needs Home Care Assistance While Recovering from Bell’s Palsy
For the most part, your loved one can go about his day and perform his regular activities even during the Bell’s Palsy. If he lives independently, the one symptom of his Bell’s Palsy most likely to interfere with his daily living is his eyesight. While Bell’s palsy doesn’t directly affect his vision, it may make it difficult to fully close his eyelid (as listed above in the symptoms), affecting his ability to perform specific tasks like driving or preparing a meal.
A home care assistance team of providers can help with any tasks that Bell’s Palsy currently makes impossible to manage. His home care assistance team can help with transportation needs, preparing meals, and even personal care tasks if he’s uncomfortable with shaving or nail care.
A home care assistance provider can also assist with medication management if there are medications or eye drops your loved one needs to schedule into his day.
If you or an aging loved one needs Home Care Assistance in Granite Bay, CA, contact A Better Living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
- What to Do When Bell’s Palsy Strikes - January 23, 2025
- Angina Symptoms and Tips for Managing Them - January 16, 2025
- How To Juggle Caring For Your Kids And Your Senior Parent - January 9, 2025
