My 95 year old mom lives with us and just came back from acute rehab after a small stroke. Although she was cooperative and made a lot of progress there, since coming home she is doing worse every day, claiming she ‘just can’t”. We are starting in home therapy so hopefully she’ll improve again. My brother thinks she worked hard in rehab to be able to come home and now that she’s has no incentive to push herself. Is this normal?
Yes, they get exhausted. Allow her to express it. Honor it. Cut her lots of slack and let how hard she works be her own thing.
May be time to think about assisted living if Mom has the funds and you are not going to be a hands on caregiver . She can continue therapy there to attempt to maintain mobility and strength . On the whole though it is likely she will be needing more help from here on out than before the stroke .
The other option is Mom hires help to come to the home , however , often the elder won’t do that when they are living with their adult child . They think the adult child should be providing the hands on care .
Even a small stroke at 95 is life changing . Depression after a stroke is almost always a given . Is Mom on an antidepressant ? Perhaps activities etc and friends at assisted living would help as well .