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My mom had worked for 70 years. Had a stroke was very independent and now she cannot do anything. She has a 24/7 aide that is costing her a lot of money. She’s relatively down to minimal money now. I don’t know what to do.

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My mother lost every physical ability following a devastating stroke. She had extensive therapy but no recovery happened. Know this….the first months after a stroke is when therapy is most effective, regaining skills fades entirely after six months or so. Depression is very common after a stroke and needs evaluation and treatment. When mom runs out of funds she will have to rely on Medicaid to help, that only happens in skilled nursing home. We had zero choice but to use this for my mom. There are good places that accept Medicaid, it takes some looking but they do exist. You cannot fix this for mom. I spent much time trying to figure out how to make it better for my mom, it was heartbreaking. The best I could do was visit her regularly, be relentlessly positive, tell her jokes, and hold her hand. I wish you and mom both peace
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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Your mom might be grieving the life she has lost. A stroke can take away so much. Mom has lost her independence and knows it won't come back. I would try to just be as caring as possible, accept that she is fading (as hard as that is), say all the things you want to say to her, and let her know it is okay to go.
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Reply to graygrammie
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Cal, this is so sad. And even more sad is the fact that mom is now at the end of her life, and she likely cannot recover from this. She should have palliative care consult and Hospice consult and there should be discussion that she will not appreciably improve, and what now does she want for end-of-life-care. This is horrible, but this comes to us all, and it's important now to go for comfort. The GOOD bed, the GOOD supplemental care. The GOOD drugs. The preservation of all we are in terms of skin integrity, muscle movement strength. It is time to say how can she exit life now with the most
DIGNITY
and the most COMFORT.
It is time to face things truthfully, because quite honestly all involved here KNOW the facts. The sooner they can be brought into the open, the better. And this is a transformative time, a time to be treasured. A time that we were moving to from the second we were born.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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ElizabethAR37 Nov 18, 2025
Totally agree! I'm soon to be 89, and if I were in mom's position (perish forbid), I would want the best hospice or palliative care available as I, hopefully, make my Final Exit sooner rather than later. For someone who worked 70 years (!) and had been independent all her life, mom's current condition would be difficult to bear. Speaking solely for myself, I would have NO interest in prolonging the process.
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Your Mom at this advanced age may not recover further.
Your Mom's doctor is the best one to give you and mom as prognosis, but the most recovery is experienced spontaneously in the first week after a stroke, then after first month. Any further gains are hard fought for and that doesn't happen in your 90s.

Your Mom is near the end of her life now. It's important to discuss with her her prognosis, her need for in facility care, her finances, POA, other documents in place, possibility of Palliative care or Hospice if that's what she wants.

I am so sorry. Take comfort in a very good long life of independence she has enjoyed.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Get her assessed for LTC by her doctor. Find a good facility and transition her into LTC before she runs out of money (make sure the facility accepts Medicaid). When she is about 4 months away from running out of money, apply for Medicaid. It is important to not wait to move her into a good facility until it's too late. Some good places have waiting lists for Medicaid recipients who are not residents. The residents get first dibs on the Medicaid beds.
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Reply to Geaton777
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My much loved M was 78 when the cancer came back. The oncologist pushed for more chemotherapy etc, which had been difficult the first time around. M chose to die without it, and she did 4 weeks later, much loved with me (asleep) close by her side. Might your M make the same choice? And can you handle it if she does?
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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I would recommend meeting with a long term care financial planner with your mother and discussing what she would like to do with her health care aide and see if she is getting all the services they provide. You can get recommendations from your local department of aging and also get recommendations from a social worker as well regarding her case.
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Reply to Senior8
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CAL2025: Speak to her physician.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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Talk to her doctor. Look for a facility that she can afford. Does she have Medicaid?
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Reply to JustAnon
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Help her apply for Medicaid and get her moved to a skilled nursing facility. If she owns her home, the house will need to be sold, and proceeds used to pay for her care until that money runs out.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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