We want to give my mother who had a stroke best care possible. What questions should we ask the nurses and doctors?

Hi Evette

Thanks for posting your question on EnableMe. I’m sorry to hear about your mother’s stroke but I’m glad to know she has you and your siblings to care and advocate for her.

It sounds like her stroke happened very recently. Did you receive a copy of My Stroke Journey? Most people don’t know much about stroke until they or a loved one has one. My Stroke Journey covers everything you need to know.

At this stage, make sure you understand:

- What type of stroke your mother had and what treatment she was given

- What parts of her brain were affected and what impact the stroke has had

- What stroke risk factors she has, what’s known about the cause of her stroke and how any risk factors should be managed.

It is great to hear that your mum is going to receive inpatient rehabilitation. If people have private health insurance, we recommend finding out as much as possible about all the different options, public and private. Often people go into this decision making thinking private options will suit their family member better, but find this isn’t always the case.

You are on the path to public rehabilitation so that’s worth focusing on. Asking what the rehabilitation facility is like, what kind of assessment and therapy your mother will receive, will help you all prepare. Once she’s there, individualised assessment is key. Your mother will need therapy based on her own needs, preferences and goals. The more you and your siblings are involved in this, the better. Once she’s been there a little while, and her therapy is established, a family meeting is a good way to make sure everyone is on the same page and to begin to plan for the future.

Not all of your mother’s time in rehabilitation will be taken up in therapy. Rest and good quality sleep is important. But there may be things that she can do, perhaps with your help, outside of therapy time. Ask her team about this. One of the really important things you will do is to keep her spirits up and keep her connected with life outside hospital.

Planning for home is incredibly important – making sure she has any services she needs and access to ongoing rehabilitation. You need to understand the plan and be clear about what to expect, and what to do if something unexpected happens or problems arise.

This is a lot of information – but you will find it all stepped out for you in My Stroke Journey and in our accompanying fact sheets. If you would like a copy posted out to you, please call StrokeLine on 1800 787 653 or email strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au

Our team of health professionals on StrokeLine are available 9am to 5pm AEST. We would be pleased to answer any questions you have throughout your mother’s recovery.

We wish you and your family the very best –

Jude, Social Work, StrokeLine