Hello! I am posting because I would like some help. I am 28 years old and my mother (54 yrs old) had a stroke in September of last year. She is recovering well except she has poor short term memory and is inclined to sleep if not engaged in some sort of activity. I took off from work to take care of her, but will be needing to get back to work in a month. I am trying to figure out the best situation for her. I thought about an adult day care, but since she is so high functioning I would not think that that would be an encouraging place for her. I am not sure about the sitter thing either . . . she does not need any medical help, but just someone to keep her active throughout the day. Any ideas? Anything would be helpful.

Thanks!

Marlena, Moms Buddy brings up some great points you really do need to find out where this stroke occurred in your Moms brain and the reasoning behind the meds they chose to prescribe her. My own MIL had 4 strokes and not once were these meds prescribed to her. She is on Aricept now but this is only because I believed she had a need for it due to obsessive behaviors accompanied by self harm, but like Moms Buddy's dear mom it really does not seem to be working for my MIL either nor have I seen any changes dramatic or otherwise in cognitive function.
Please keep us updated on your progress

quote:

She is on Namenda and Aricept for memory

According to information I read at
http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=VADEM
"A common complication resulting from stroke is loss of cognitive function, or intellectual abilities, often called vascular dementia."
So that explains why the aricept and namenda are prescribed. This is the condition from which my own mom suffers (along with being nearly 90 years old!). Unfortunately, as this site points out,
"There are currently no therapies or drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) available for the treatment of VaD."

Many doctors prescribe drugs like Exelon, aricept and namenda because they (arguably) have some efficacy for Alzheimer's Disease patients suffering from dementia. If the drugs (aricept & namenda) seem to help your mom's symptoms, great, but know that they were not developed for this use. Mom's experience with them was no beneficial changes whatsoever. Talk with the doctor about the possible side effects. It's possible that your mom would do better without them.

I don't know how much the docs told you about your mom's stroke, but learning about her stroke will help you to care for her and to anticipate needs more accurately. Learning about what happened can also help you recognize problems in the future.

You are learning at an early age that quality health care is not attained by showing up at a treatment center and following what one is told. It involves the patient (or caregiver) to understand a LOT about the afflictions, the treatments and alternatives, etc. as well as the patient's own individual peculiarities and circumstances. Sometimes docs prescribe meds and treatments that make no sense and one must be prepared to question them or seek other advice if their treatment plans do not help the patient. After 6 months of caring for your mom, I'm sure you have learned a great deal from your experience!
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8772/2191...48.html?d=dmtContent
Near the bottom of the above page is a list of links to other organizations - one is based in Galveston and may offer you some information and support that is useful and relatively local.
This link
http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=EFFECT
has some important information about the effects of stroke depending on the location in the brain.
This link
http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Strokelinks
has contact information specifically for assistance for stroke survivors. I thought it might be particularly beneficial for you to check out.

I encourage you to seek out all the local help and support that you can find (and, of course, we're here 24/7). You don't mention whether you have a life partner, but you will need help to care for your mom and to continue with your own life. For a young person, the strain can be awesome and inhibit opportunities that life offers. That you were able to take off so much time to care for her is outstanding and you are obviously a devoted daughter to have done so. With some help from others in your area, you may be able to return to work, pursue your life's goals AND care for your mom as needed.

Please update us when you can on how you and your Mom are doing and if you are able to find some assistance locally. Your devotion to her is inspirational and she is lucky to have a daughter who is willing to "step up" when she needed you. Many blessings to you!

Hello Marlena good to see you back
here are a couple of links to help navigate you in regards to medications she is taking...
Aricept
http://www.medicinenet.com/donepezil/article.htm
Namenda
http://www.medicinenet.com/memantine/article.htm
Captopril
http://www.medicinenet.com/captopril/article.htm
Lipitor
http://www.medicinenet.com/atorvastatin/article.htm

All of these medications can and do cause drowsiness in patients have you discussed this with her Primary care physician?
The legal paperwork MB mentioned does need to be attended to for all of your sakes but please do sit down with moms doctor and have an open and honest discussion about her prognosis and why they decided to put her on these 2 AD meds (Aricept and Namenda)

I posted more info, but it went to the second entry instead of the end of the thread. AHHHHHHH!

More information on my mom's situation to answer your questions.

1.) She is totally ambulatory
2.) She can get up in the morning to an alarm clock, go to the restroom, brush her teeth, take a shower (I have to pick out her clothes) and she could make her meals, but I am afraid she might leave the stove on.
3.) Yes she has health insurance
4.) No she does not have disability, we recently applied and are awaiting a response.
5.) Yes the doctors say her drowsiness is normal. She is on Namenda and Aricept for memory, Captopril for blood pressure and Lipitor for cholesterol. There is no way for me to know if any of these medicines are causing her to be drowsy.
6.) No, I have not done the legal stuff but I need to make that a bigger priority!
7.) I am an only child and the rest of my mom's family is in India.

Thank you so much for your posts and interest in helping me.

Welcome, Marlena! Bless your heart! I am 54 with a 25 year old son and cannot imagine what upheavals in life an event as a stroke would cause to us! You have my profound sympathy at having to deal with this now!

To make meaningful suggestions, we need to know a little more about your mom's situation. Is she totally ambulatory and self-sufficient, ie. can she cook her own meals, take meds, walk, etc.? Does she have health insurance? Is she on disability? Is she eligible for medicare benefits because of her permanent disability? So on and so forth... Because of her age, normally, one's options are limited because they are not on or eligible for retirement, medicare or other similar benefits and programs.

Her daytime somulence when not being actively stimulated, engaged or supervised is another potential way to attack the problem. Have you discussed this with her doctors? What meds is she on? Sometimes the meds given to brain injured people have a side effect of making them dull and sleepy - I call it the DUH factor... Sometimes, these meds are needed for certain conditions and reasons, but sometimes they are not, or not in the higher dosages once required. Sometimes these meds can be slowly withdrawn, the dosages reduced or the drugs replaced with ones that have less of a DUH effect on the patient. Sometimes, a short regimen of something like Ritalin in the mornings only can stimulate a person enough to remain alert throughout the day and after the drug is reduced and withdrawn, they retain their alertness level independent of medication.

Another question... by virtues of what happened to you and your mom, have you and she made the necessary legal arrangements (ie. DPOA, wills, living wills, etc.) that are so needed to care for someone who has become incapacitated? If not, put that as #1 on your list!

Does your mother have other children or siblings or parents who could help out in some respect?

When you have time, please give us a little more to go on and maybe we can give you some solid suggestions and leads to run down for assistance. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Marlena welcome in.
So sorry about your mom. I have to say there is not many options you have open as it sounds like she needs to have a caregiver with her at all times as long as she has short term memory loss and you need to go back to work.
Depending on how severe the stroke was that your mom had, have you thought about therapy for her?
Here is a link you can go to to better judge what if any kind of help she may need to get through this.
Her PCP can also forward you to Occupational therapists in you area
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.ns...effects?OpenDocument
I hope this helps. Please keep us updated on your progress

Marlena

Welcome to ECO!! Glad you found us.

I have not had personal experience w/adult day care but our senior ctr offers activities/programs in addition to the day center.

Have you contacted your local department on aging? If not that would be a good start to find out what is available in your area.

Stick around &/or come back cause there are many people here at ECO that will have more ideas/suggestions.