Stroke rehabilitation

paulsturgess

does anyone have any experience of this, either themselves or family/ friends / relatives, and specifically any knowledge of rehab hospitals?

my mum had a massive stroke at the end of June, has been in Tunbridge Wells hospital since and made some decent improvements, the hospital was good and the staff brilliant (although they were struggling with staff shortages) - now they’ve referred her to a rehab place called the raphael hospital which she’s just got to - but we’re not impressed so far, it’s run down and staff and care doesn’t seem anywhere near as good as it was in tunbridge Wells hospital - and Mum seems unhappy in the new place although it’s early days. 

Anyone got any stories of similar, and/or recommendations for rehab places in London/ Kent or even further afield? 

Exiled_Addick

You could try contacting the brain injury charity Headway. I have no direct experience of them but I know they exist and work with people who have suffered strokes.

https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/types-of-brain-injury/stroke/#

redlanered

Rehab hospital round my way pretty good, but what I regret in my Dad's case was not carrying on physio after he had been discharged from hospital (he could afford to pay for private physio, within reason).  

paulsturgess

Thanks both. What was that rehab hospital @redlanered ?

redlanered

It's over my way in West Molesey.  DM me if you'd like a longer chat about the whole post-stroke experience, happy to talk about it, certainly a challenging time... 

leftbehind

https://www.stroke.org.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjwtuLrBRAlEiwAPVcZBvTky61LUu2h1JC5xAUMDfzbvdP6gQh4cbO2Oiykm367oUo1wUCpmRoC2qsQAvD_BwE

eaststandmike

Not got any recommendations however my mum suffered a mild stroke which left her right hand numb and immobile so they admitted her to Sevenoaks Hospital. It turned out to be an awful experience. No physio due to staff shortages, no doctors working full time on site, they just popped in a couple of times per week and the night staff were dreadful.

Mum became very ill whilst in there and due to the lack of qualified staff on site they called 999 for an ambulance which in turn took her to Maidstone Hospital.

I have never heard of a hospital calling 999 for an ambulance so I refused to let her go back there.   

Karim_myBagheri

eaststandmike said:

Not got any recommendations however my mum suffered a mild stroke which left her right hand numb and immobile so they admitted her to Sevenoaks Hospital. It turned out to be an awful experience. No physio due to staff shortages, no doctors working full time on site, they just popped in a couple of times per week and the night staff were dreadful.

Mum became very ill whilst in there and due to the lack of qualified staff on site they called 999 for an ambulance which in turn took her to Maidstone Hospital.

I have never heard of a hospital calling 999 for an ambulance so I refused to let her go back there.   

sevenoaks hospital is a waste of time for emergency's. it's basically become a cottage hospital. ok for out-patients but otherwise a waste of time. went there after a car accident a number of years ago. ended up having to get a taxi over to pembury. 

Rob7Lee

My sister had a major stroke some years ago and was in Kings for about 8 months. She then attended there for about 2 years for Physio and they were very good.

Lincsaddick

I guess you have already contacted these people .. if not, do so a s a p ..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke_Association 

Dave2l

Can you commute to Gravesend without too much agg?

Gravesham community hospital have a full time doctor and a full time physio.

I was there for 4 months last year. It is what it is.

Not exactly a Caribbean island but based on my experience, I have enough reason to believe that she will receive the care you are looking for there.

One of the occupational health assistants is a Charlton fan. I know that is irrelevant, but just saying.

Pm me if you like. 

I hope I can help and offer better advice.

Really sorry to hear about your mum. All the best to her.

The Prince-e-Paul

Sorry for late into the thread. Only just got a WiFi signal as spent 24 hours on train through India. 

Anyway to the point. Wife is a community nurse and said above all physio, physio, physio. Speak to a physiotherapist specialising in stroke rehabilitation. Do it a few times daily, family can get involved in the excercise to bring it along. Repetition is the key to sustained recovery. Wish your mum a full recovery. 

Rob7Lee

Also speak to the Stroke Association

paulsturgess

Thanks all. Have already spoken to the Stroke Association. She's getting physio and is making reasonable progress, it's the speech which she is struggling with. But I'm hopeful on all those fronts with a good environment - just the current place doesn't really seem that thus far.

Cheers again for all advice.

Lincsaddick

paulsturgess said:

Thanks all. Have already spoken to the Stroke Association. She's getting physio and is making reasonable progress, it's the speech which she is struggling with. But I'm hopeful on all those fronts with a good environment - just the current place doesn't really seem that thus far.

Cheers again for all advice.

I had a minor stroke a few years back. Speech was the facility that took me a while to right itself. Good speech therapy obviously played a major role. The best exercise for me was simply putting a straw in the mouth and blowing down it. That really 'centred' the muscles around the jaw and eventually strengthened the whole neck, jaw and throat area. A simple exercise but very effective. The thing is to keep at it .. Good Luck !!