My mother suffered a left basal ganglia stroke at the end of February 2009 which affected her right hand side. Initially her movement was very difficult to control, making it a tough challenge for her to walk, or use her right arm and hand, and in particular her arm was ‘restless’ and uncontrollable.
heads up! were contacted by my daughter’s partner, who is a neurological physiotherapist and Bobath tutor herself. She arranged for Vicky, one of heads up! neurological physiotherapist with specialist experience and training to visit my mother on a weekly basis. At first she was unable to write, peel potatoes or oranges, she found it very difficult to manage a kettle, washing and dressing herself, but almost immediately the specialist therapy started she began to see significant improvements in movement control, and therefore independence.
Within the first month she was able to significantly reduce the involuntary movement of her right arm, and she managed to write her name and use the remote control for her television. She then progressed on to tasks such as ironing.
We are now one year on, and although she had a couple of set backs, one minor and one quite large, reassurance and input from Vicky has helped in her ‘bounce back’ so that she is still managing well, remains self motivated, and although she needs some help to dress and wash in the mornings she has continued to improve in all areas. She can cook her own meals, remains living in her own flat, and does manage some of her own ironing.
It is my belief that without the continued support and encouragement given by Vicky, her neurological physiotherapist, she would not still be living in her own home. Vicky’s enthusiasm and unfailing positive nature have been invaluable to my mother. My mother really looks forward to Vicky’s visits and she is so much brighter when she has seen her. The visits are now just once a month as her progress has been such that this is considered sufficient.
I did not think, when she left hospital last year, that we would progress this far, and we are sure that we would not have done so but for the skill and encouragement from Vicky, and the support from all at ‘heads up!’, and my mother’s own determination.