Finally, told my husband has vascular dementia. I went to "search", but the posts were all so old, I thought maybe some new ideas had come along. He is recovering from a major stroke. Wanting to come home and see how things will work out. Any advice?
sorry Bobbie but glad you have a diagnosis. How is his physical condition? Is he paralyzed or weak on one side? Are you able to care for him at home without endangering you?
My sister had a stroke about 5 years ago (she is now 76). I knew right away she was having dementia problems. Fortunately, or I thought at the time, she did not suffer any paralysis just had memory problems right away. The CT of her brain showed numerous areas that were dead from the TIAs she had been having. Before her stroke she spent the year after her husband died laying on her bed most of the time. I honestly believe that is what led to her's as the only place she had a problems was the carotid artery on the right side - the side she always laid on. She keeps mostly to herself and is worse as far as memory than my husband who has Alzheimer's and was diagnosed 7+ years ago.
The stroke affected his right side, and he is in rehab for another week. He has learned to use his right hand, but not too much improvement on his leg. We are going to try having him stay at home and see how it works out. I know that I can't lift, but hoping that he gets better.
Bobbie, make sure that the physical therapists train you in how to help him, and that the durable medical equipment you need has been put in place before the discharge. Also, if you are having home aides, get that set up before discharge. Also be prepared for him to have a lot of emotional swings following the stroke. Depression seems to go along with it, and also sometimes unusual frustration and anger. If you will be taking him back in for appointments, make sure you have the phone numbers for the wheelchair transportation if you need it. If they will do it, you may be able to get physical and occupational therapists to come to your home to make an assessment of what he'll need. They will probably have some kind of team meeting of all the disciplines before discharge...you should be included in that. Keep a dialogue going with whoever the social worker or discharge planner is who is assigned to him. You want a smooth, well-coordinated discharge home...not a bunch of loose ends, unmet needs, and things falling between the cracks.
Elizabeth, thanks. I am going over to the rehap hosp on Monday to go to therapy with him. They tell me he can do a "bench transfer"---I want to see it and know how to help. He told me that he can stand up----he can't. Our daughter is so against me bringing him home. She says we are an accident waiting to happen. I am going to be very careful, And think twice before I act. She doesn't realize how little he had been doing before the stroke. Watch t v, sleep, eat, . I am most concerned about the bathroom issues. I guess I need to be trained on those too. I have good mattress protectors and they tell me to get some kind of easy to remove covers. Physical therapy will come to the house, along with home help. I have names of aides to call, when I find out what I need. I have no idea how I will get him to dr. appointments, guess that is a good question. I feel so down and so inadequate. And I don't want to do this.
Elizabeth, thanks. I am going over to the rehap hosp on Monday to go to therapy with him. They tell me he can do a "bench transfer"---I want to see it and know how to help. He told me that he can stand up----he can't. Our daughter is so against me bringing him home. She says we are an accident waiting to happen. I am going to be very careful, And think twice before I act. She doesn't realize how little he had been doing before the stroke. Watch t v, sleep, eat, . I am most concerned about the bathroom issues. I guess I need to be trained on those too. I have good mattress protectors and they tell me to get some kind of easy to remove covers. Physical therapy will come to the house, along with home help. I have names of aides to call, when I find out what I need. I have no idea how I will get him to dr. appointments, guess that is a good question. I feel so down and so inadequate. And I don't want to do this.
hi bobbie, so sorry to hear of your husbands diagnosis. my dear husband also had the vascular dementia diagnosis. I also know he had many small strokes over time that may be the cause. if you can get a lightweight transport chair, its the first thing I would recommend. someone said maybe the local walgreens sometimes carry them. if you need a stronger one for a larger man, ask maybe your home health if medicare can offer assistance? this will help you get him to and from apt and dr visits. you may also need to go ahead and consult with an independent aide you can call on regularly to help get him to and from outside visits. if hes a larger man, you will need good help to not hurt yourself right off the bat. its a very long road and one needs to protect the health of both but with great consideration to the caregiver. I kept my DH home for the duration of the disease almost 15years. he passed last dec. so I had the help I needed at home but I say I waited way too long to start using help. plus you will need your own time out to reflect and reboot and probably will need someone to stay with him during those days. the home health folks should be able to show you many tricks to help care for him so be sure to ask. its amazing how unprepared we are in the beginning but like so many here you will adjust learn and find your own way in the caregiving process. divvi*
he used to be a large man. We weigh about the same now. I have the light transfer chair, from Walgreens, bought about a year ago. Our daughter is still so concerned about me bringing him home, but I think we have to try. I think he has been having small strokes for awhile. When I brought our first baby home, he came with no instructions and he has turned very well. Surely, I can handle this. It is so hard(for me) not to be so tired of, one disaster after another. I keep thinking, my plate is full. thank goodness for this forum. Support is wonderful. Does vascular dementia continue to get worse in any sort of pattern. Can it just stay the same,?
Bobbie.........I know a little about Vascular Dementia because that was what my dear Helen was afflicted with and after finding this website I always felt lucky that it was Vascular Dementia instead of Alzheimers because Alzheimers can last up to 20 years.
My dear Helen's life was over in four and a half years after diagnosis. She went through the typical dementia stages just like alzheimers but it was much faster. No different than Alzheimers..........Just faster.
My thoughts are with you Bobbie. You are a strong and passionate caregiver. Be proud of yourself and look at the bright side. It's terrible, but it's not Alzheimers.............GeorgieBoy
Bobbie, the other thing to think about very seriously, and get the input of the Rehab. people...is to consider whether a safe home care plan is even realistic...if placement in a facility is the wiser choice, it may need to be considered. Another thing to get straight in your head at this time of discharge (assuming he comes home to your family house), is to know what your criteria will be when and if you finally do decide he has to be placed. (Many times placement is necessary because the patient requires two people to transfer him, and it cannot be done with a hydraulic lift for whatever reason...but they are not ready to just be left in bed for total bed care.)
That is an interesting question about whether vascular dementia has a predictable prognosis. If anybody knows the answer...or what factors might play a role...could they post it?
Woke up in night with terrible pain in my leg and knee. To dr. this morning and x-rays. They think it may be a pinched sciatica nerve. This means I won't be bringing Johnie home on Thursday. He will go to care center here for 2 or 3 weeks. Maybe that is best.
Bobbie, so sorry to hear you had to go through that on top of everything else. I hope they were able to give you something to relieve the pain. You are so focused on Johnnie...he is lucky to have someone like you in his corner. But you must take care of yourself first.