Daughter recently had left cerebral artery stroke; has aphasia and no use of right arm and hand. [View all]
She's middle-aged; I, her only living parent, and her siblings are her support system, though they have lives to live in the present. She doesn't have many friends, due to a form of Asperger's.
She has many physical ills, diabetic related - high blood pressure, high glucose - she uses insulin to control; she was hospitalized in ICU for 2 weeks beginning March3.
Last Tuesday (3/22) she was moved to a rehabilitation hospital. She has Medicare, but her 100 days will likely run out soon, since she has had ongoing problems since last Oct. 24, using Medicare days for hospitalizations and rehab.
But this stroke is the worst of her problems thus far. She understands most of what is said to her, and can answer "no", "Yes", "Okay", and some other one- or two-word responses. She seems frustrated as she knows she cannot get the words out. She is not using her left (unaffected) hand much, such as for holding a plastic cup or feeding herself. She is also likely just plain weak all over, due to several weeks mostly spent in bed, with a few hours a day sitting in a chair.
Problem is - I'm an older senior without enough stamina to care for her on a continued basis and won't be around for her long-term. She will need help being transferred from bed to chair & vice versa, toileting or toileting care, special meals - diabetic, low sodium and finely chopped. I want to support her, but feel that I'm in a survival mode myself - I tire easily and normally plan one activity a day for myself.
I haven't checked out the options in the community yet, as I don't know how much progress she is going to make before they release her to me - likely in the next 2-3 weeks. I'm not expecting much progress so quickly, though I'm told most recovery from stroke takes place within the first 6-12 months, and I want her to have every chance possible.
Thoughts? Advice?
= new reply since forum marked as read
