This post is to get you to imagine yourself in the position of a hypothetical CARER/ADVOCATE for a stroke survivor (Cared for) based on a real-life stroke survivor and make a decision as to whether or not you would look to engage a professional physiotherapist to improve the quality of life of the Cared for (who can’t categorically confirm whether or not they would like this or they enjoy it – this is why you are their advocate).
Major/Key considerations
- Cared for is in their mid-90s
- Cared for has been physically inactive for over five years
- Physical activity may or may not improve the quality of your life and may be risky for health of Cared for e.g. fragile bones etc
Situation
- Cared for survived a massive ischemic stroke that left them right side paralysed and aphasiac (non-verbal, but makes sounds which indicate mood, comfort level etc).
- Cared for was not expected to live and even if they did their quality of life was not going to amount to much. Essentially bed bound needing double-up care.
- Cared for refused to give up and managed to get discharged to supported home care (double-up carers 4x a day) and family providing additional care (or this might be the other way round, family carers with additional support from double-up agency carers)
- Cared for got no physio when it was needed and when it was given after much badgering, it was “too little, too late” which meant that they were not benefitting or realising the potential
- Cared for survived the covid lock-down when only family cared for them with agency care reduced to 3x a day
- Cared for continued to do their own thing in the background, brain working away healing itself and their muscles did not deteriorate too much despite lack of physical activity
- Cared for has been pigeon-holed as “not likely to improve” and no help is given i.e. no physio and even the local hospital does not want to see them because the hospital is a risky environment and Cared for might pick up infections. Cared for’s GP and Community care team don’t have the “special skills/equipment” needed and so they refer Cared for to the hospital, only for the hospital to send you back (vicious circle)
It is widely known and accepted, we all benefit from physical activity. Physical health and mental health go hand in hand (at least that is what the Cared for believes).
Having been physically “inactive” for duration of their stroke recovery period, should the Cared for be assisted one last time to become physically fitter and more active.
Question
Given the above, very hypothetical, and maybe difficult to imagine, but do try anyway, would you engage a physio to put the Cared for on the path to improved physical fitness
OR
Would you accept, this is as good as it gets and just let the Cared for (passively or palliative care) see out the rest of your days, whether that is one day, one year or maybe even ten years?
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Would you take on a private physio therapist?
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Yes - I would
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No - I would not
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I don’t know
Thank you for reading and for your participation