Leaving the hospital soon?
Patients are usually discharged from hospital several days or weeks after a stroke. Please choose the story that best describes you or your family member:
Jack's Story
(symptoms on left side of the body)
Jack is nearing discharge from hospital. He still has some left arm weakness and left leg weakness. Jack sometimes neglects people and objects on his left side - but much less so than when he first had his stroke. Jack is also less confused than he was soon after his stroke, but still has memory and problem-solving difficulties.
Jack is now able to transfer out of bed and in to a chair by himself. He has good sitting balance but still has trouble with balance when walking so he is using a quad walker. The therapist says that Jack should work on balance activities and on strengthening his leg and arm. She suggested that he would benefit from arm therapies such as constraint-induced movement therapy, task-oriented training, virtual reality, rTMS, motor imagery, mirror therapy, and functional electrical stimulation. For strengthening of his legs and to improve balance the therapist suggests aerobic exercise, balance training, functional electrical stimulation, mirror therapy, strength training or task-oriented training.
Jack is returning to his two-storey home that he shares with his wife and adult daughter. There are 5 steps up to the bedroom and he is able to go up the stairs using the newly-installed railing. He will need other assistive devices for bathing, etc. Jack is anxious to return home and becomes tearful (something that happens quite often these days) when discussing discharge. You might be worried that he is experiencing depression.
Before the stroke Jack and his wife shared domestic activities and he enjoyed swimming, golfing, socializing, and driving to various leisure activities.
As a family member you may feel concerned about how things will work out once Jack is home and how you will cope with all of these changes in your life. You have spoken to the doctor and to the nurse who also suggest that Jack would benefit from learning more about how to prevent another stroke.
(Please click here to learn more...)
Isabelle's Story
(symptoms on right side of the body)
Isabelle is nearing discharge from hospital. She has been treated for right arm weakness and right leg weakness (hemiparesis) and for a right facial droop. Isabelle's speech is improving and she understands when you talk to her, but she still has difficulty speaking in full sentences and often searches for the right word (aphasia).
Isabelle's balance is improving, but she is slow and cautious when walking. She has been told to walk with help from another person or to use a quad cane. Isabelle is starting to use her arm for functional activities and is washing and dressing herself. She often finds it difficult to get to the bathroom on time.
Isabelle has been instructed to purchase various assistive devices for use at home. She will be returning to the home she shares with her spouse.
Isabelle retired from work two years ago, and before the stroke she enjoyed gardening, golf and driving the family car on daily outings. The couple has 2 children, a daughter and a son. The daughter lives close by and visits regularly, while the son lives out of town.
Isabelle is feeling depressed, especially about going home when she is not back to her old self. Isabelle's therapist is encouraging her to socialize with friends and family. She would like Isabelle to start some of her old leisure activities or to think of new ones to try.
As a family member you are feeling concerned about how to do all the things that are needed and you have lots of questions. You are also feeling exhausted from the weeks of hospital visits and trying to balance the other parts of your life. This is a time when many family members wonder how things will work once their family member returns home and how everyone will cope with all of these changes.
(Please click here to learn more...)