NEW TO THIS SITE

[Anne_2205]

Hi everyone
Hope you are all as well as you can be today. Just wanted to introduce myself. I am a carer for my husband who had a stroke recently. This has left him with short term memory problems and difficulty walking. We moved to Rustington 3 years ago and love it here. Our retirement has turned out different from what we planned it to be because of hubby's health. Sometimes it can be very lonely being a carer but we been happily married for nearly 42 years and I would never leave him. Would love to chat to others in similar situation and share the ups and downs. Love to you all.

[bowlingbun]

Hi Anne, welcome to the forum.
Have you managed to negotiate round the care and benefits systems?
Claiming PIP or Attendance Allowance?
Claiming exemption from Council Tax due to "severe mental impairment" ? I hate this term, but it's the one they have to use.
Easy to claim if you get PIP or AA.
I'm in the New Forest, love Chichester and West Sussex for a short break.

[Anne_2205]

Hi there thanks for replying - in process of getting attendance allowance but not heard of getting the mental impairment allowance ?????
Anne xx

[sunnydisposition]

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/discount ... led-people

[Ingrid Carers UK]

Hello Anne

Welcome to the forum! I'm not sure if you are aware or have already attended one of our online weekly meetups but I just wanted to send you a link in case you would like to come along. We run them weekly, every Monday afternoon, for about an hour. Its a chance for carers to come together share advice and talk to each other. Please find attached the link Anne, for more information and joining instructions.

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advic ... ne-meetups

We would love to see you there.
Ingrid

[Breezey]

Hello Anne

So sorry to hear that.
My mother has had many mini strokes - TIAs

Find out if there is a stroke club in your area, you will have support there and some tips and solutions.
you don't have to go to them all, just one or two, dip in and out, but the leader and some members could be very helpful.

If you haven't applied for a Blue Badge for parking then do so.

[Breezey]

As said, try and find a local stroke group if you can for some contacts and advice.

Advice I was given from a colleague who survived two TIAs was Celebrate Successes
Eg being able to form a brief little smile or managing to feed herself now albeit with fingers and later being able to use cutlery again.
Keep things simple, happy, fun.

That advice really worked for us, it helped a lot. My mother has lost concentration for complex tv dramas or soaps, it's more light entertainment now, sitcoms, brits abroad, comedies, etc

He also said that sleep was a major factor, the fatigue post stroke was massive.

My mother didn't like walking outdoors post strokes, she said she would go dizzy, I've heard other stroke survivors state that too. Have you been supplied with any aids for walking indoor rollator zimmer frame and an outdoor version with brakes and a seat on it? commode? bathroom perch stool? shower chair? shower wheelchair if you have a wetroom?

Other advice was to do the POA for finance and for health and welfare in case another stroke incapacitated her or brought on dementia. A POA is easy to do directly through the Gvt website, has a sliding scale for charges depending on circumstances. There is an option to inform people that you are doing it, this is not required and slows the process down, it can take up to 6 months , unless they state longer now.

Short term memory is a frustration factor for the stroke survivor and care giver
However it becomes second nature eventually for you.

After my mothers first TIA it was devastating but after a couple more, it became a routine.
You tend to adjust to the new life and the changes with it.