What can Ido to help a stroke victim exercise more?!
Question:
What can Ido to help a stroke victim exercise more?
My stepfather suffered a heart attack and stroke. He went rehabilitation twice and has had home visits by therapists. Yet it is very hard to make him get up and use his walker or even set up in his wheelchair.
Answers:
Right now he is probably feeling very overwhelmed with what has happened and he could be very scared if he moves around too much something will happen again. He may not admit this either. This is a common psychological problem in heart patients and stroke patients. I have a heart problem and after my open heart surgery I was totally scared to death that if I did anything, I would die! So you have to patient with him also, but you cannot let him sit there and do nothing either, this is not good for him. Encourage him or have the doctor encourage him that he has to try get up, use his walker, and wheelchair. He must take the advice of the physical therapists also and work with them.
Also have the physical therapists show you what they do so you can work with him also.
He may get angry with you when you try to "push" him into doing these things. Stroke victims and heart attack patients can become very emotional at times for a certain amount of time after it happens.
Also set realistic goals. Talk with the physician, he may be limited in what he can do also at this time and in the future. But working with rehab and his physical therapists will help him also.
Best of luck to you. I know that it is hard "push" someone that you care about to do things especially if they get upset with you. Be patient and try to work with him, but be realistic and get advice from the physical therapists and his doctor.