When Chris arrived he was bedbound and totally dependant for ADLs. He required 3 staff to transfer and reposition him. He was in a room by himself.
Fatigue was a big issue as minimal exertion left him exhausted.
I appreciated him being so close. I could be there at meal times to help. Chris was on a soft diet now and with a chef on site the food was good , they made a big effort to provide meals he enjoyed. It helped that Robyn , our daughter, was a friend of the main chef.
Close friends could now visit and finally see/ spend some time with him. Chris had been an active member of the local church and many of the parish community were following his progress and praying for him. Also many of his golfing mates came.He enjoyed these visits.
Chris graduated from a wheel chair to a vertical trolley type mover. The physio, OT and Rehab Specialist started working on a program for Chris. As he got stronger he progressed to short walks and sessions in the gym. Soon he only required 2 staff for transfers and repositioning. They were amazed at his progress considering that the optimal time to begin rehab post stroke is 48hrs and Chris began at 10 weeks. The aim was for Chris to not use any walking aids, this way he wouldn’t develop a dependancy thus developing his balance enough so he could walk unaided. Not so easy as his co ordination and balance were not good.
The speech therapist also worked with Chris. His voice improved over time but was soft and hoarse. He was able to speak on the phone and suprised a few friends.
With a lot of hard work, Chris was improving and reaching his goals. He was determined to make up for lost time.
It was evident that with modifications in place Chris would be able to come home. So after 9 weeks the team suggested an overnight stay to see how we managed.
The overnight stay was a success and Chris was happy to reunite with Van, our pet dog and vice versa, it had been a long time (5 months), I think the staff were more concerned than we were.They were keen to see how it went.
Plans were made for discharge home. The social worker and discharge planner helped me navigate through all the paperwork required e.g. Centrelink registration, carers allowance application, medicare allowances for incontinence needs, disability parking forms and ACAT assessment.
Community services needed to be accessed before discharge.
Finally the discharge day arrived. Chris did well, better than many thought possible. The staff were exceptional and we will be forever grateful for their encouragement and care. Chris was ready for home and true to his word, he walked out.
Joans jottings 