Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MADem

(135,425 posts)
4. It was a long road. He went from wheelchair to walker IN the facility.
Mon May 23, 2016, 09:42 PM
May 2016

He went home on a walker, still with very deliberate and limited movement, but able to eat without choking and in control of his bowels; since I am retired and he tolerates me well, I moved in with him (for about a year--the rest of my family was none too pleased, but it was nice to be missed) and made his life miserable (nyuck, nyuck).

He had a programme of outpatient care/appointments, and in that time I learned a lot about physical therapy and was able to augment his care with additional sessions and more aspirational efforts. The first thing he did was write--all day, morning, noon and night--that was a tough bit, getting that ability back, but when it came back, it came back fully. I got him on two quad canes in short order, and very soon he was down to one. He wasn't a fitness freak pre-stroke, and he didn't become one afterwards, either, so it was a bit like pulling teeth. I'd bribe him with favorite meals, films, trips out and about, and "learning to drive again" lessons in exchange for work outs. After a bit it all clicked.

One thing I would recommend for people who have had massive strokes that affect speech in a profound way (we were lucky we did not have this issue--he always had speech, it was just a bit jumbled and slurry at first, with a bit of hunting for words at times until he "rewired&quot is a program you can put on a tablet called "ProLoQuo2Go"-- it substitutes icons for words and can help someone who finds themselves mute but can process visual information a way to communicate.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»John Kerry»Teresa is turning the cha...»Reply #4