Anyone know anything about post-stroke memory loss?

[EmilieMadison]

Specifically, activities for someone who can no longer read, write, drive, etc? Her memory pre-stroke is pretty good- she can recite poetry and lines from books that she read 40 years ago! But since the stroke, her short term memory is shot. She can't listen to audio books, as she gets too frustrated. 

When I visit, I want to be able to do something with her when I'm there, although she loves just chatting. She's also alone most of the time and if there's any sort of activity that she could do on her own, any suggestions would be great!

[hungrycaterpillar]

How's her motor function? Would knitting/crafts be an option?

[EmilieMadison]

Apr 16, 2014 19:37:15 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

How's her motor function? Would knitting/crafts be an option?

I dont know if she knew how to knit pre-stroke. If not, she wont be able to learn now

[hungrycaterpillar]

What about putting together a puzzle?

[EmilieMadison]

Apr 16, 2014 19:41:47 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

What about putting together a puzzle?

If it's a big piece puzzle that doesn't have a lot of pieces, that might work. Maybe? Thanks for the suggestion!

[TrickyBob]

Forgive me for asking but is the reading a problem of eyesight or post memory loss of forgetting how to?

[Deleted]

Coloring (you can download free adult coloring pages), puzzles

[underwaterrhymes]

One of my very good friends had a double brain hemorrhage and a stroke.

She's been terribly affected by it and will always have to live with her parents. Her short-term memory is one of the areas that has been most affected. She repeats herself a lot, especially certain phrases.

All of that said, she is the same person she was before and she enjoys just feeling like who she was before.

Can you bring in some awesome tea and pastries and open the windows if the weather is nice and have a tea party?

What about doing a crossword together? (Less frustrating for her if you're there to help.)

Are there any movies she's been wanting to see that you could bring over for her to enjoy on her own? I know she's frustrated by books, but maybe movies - since they involve a visual and an audio - won't be as bad?

Can she paint pottery? Could you talk to a local pottery place and see if they'll let you buy the pieces and the paint and bring it in for firing? That way she can take her time with it.

Maybe a garden? Could you bring some plants or herbs to plant together so she can see some things bloom around her house?

[smile715]

My grandmom had a stroke and has bad short term memory. She does word searches. Honestly she goes thru hundreds of them because it's all she does.

[Deleted]

How cognitively impaired is she? And what are her motor skills like?

[EmilieMadison]

Apr 16, 2014 19:48:28 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

Forgive me for asking but is the reading a problem of eyesight or post memory loss of forgetting how to?

The part of her brain that processes reading was damaged during the stroke, so she just can't do it anymore. It's SO heartbreaking. One of her favorite things in the world was reading, and libraries. 

[Deleted]

Would she be into crafts like decoupage?

[TrickyBob]

Apr 16, 2014 19:56:50 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Apr 16, 2014 19:48:28 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

Forgive me for asking but is the reading a problem of eyesight or post memory loss of forgetting how to?

The part of her brain that processes reading was damaged during the stroke, so she just can't do it anymore. It's SO heartbreaking. One of her favorite things in the world was reading, and libraries. 

That is so sad.  

What about listening to books? 

[underwaterrhymes]

Apr 16, 2014 19:56:50 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Apr 16, 2014 19:48:28 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

Forgive me for asking but is the reading a problem of eyesight or post memory loss of forgetting how to?

The part of her brain that processes reading was damaged during the stroke, so she just can't do it anymore. It's SO heartbreaking. One of her favorite things in the world was reading, and libraries. 

Most libraries have alternative programs these days. Could you look on the library website and see what sorts of things they have planned from a programming perspective? Maybe interesting talks or weekend social events?

Also, my husband is a library director. When he gets home from his event tonight, I'll ask him if he knows of any modified reading programs for people who have had strokes or lost their reading capabilities (aside from audio books, which from your OP sound like don't really work either).

[orangeblossom]

My mom did a lot of word searches post-stroke.

[lilac05]

I'm so sorry that someone you love is going through this. You're a great friend to try to help. If she's alone most of the time, she probably mostly enjoys chatting with company.

Coloring is often a great activity. Markers are easier than crayons or colored pencils.

Is she seeing a Speech-Language Pathologist? Some people respond really well to therapy post-stroke and the SLP will be able to give her more activities.

[EmilieMadison]

Apr 16, 2014 19:55:15 GMT -5 @bostonjen said:

How cognitively impaired is she? And what are her motor skills like?

Aside from the memory loss (can't read, drive, can't cook because she forgets the stove is on, etc) she's still "herself" and very intelligent. She has limited large motor skills (walking is very difficult), although I'm not sure about her fine motor skills.

[heythere]

My dad had a stroke and has much better long term memory than short term now. His memories from before he stroke are in good shape- he can still tell stories from his high school days- but he sometimes has trouble remembering what he ate for lunch.

Some of the things he likes now are doing crosswords (with someone- talking about it and coming up with answers together), games like connect four, magazines (rather than books due to attention span), listening to radio talk shows, watching some of his favorite tv shows/movies on DVD/netflix (ones he's already seen so it doesn't matter so much if he isn't totally following along), looking at old family photos or home movies, visiting with friends or family (whoever will be patient with him asking the same questions or telling the same stories many times).

[lostmonkeyatikea]

How tech savvy is she? I'm a speech pathologist and used to work with TBI patients.

Does she have access to a computer or IPad?

One thing I would maybe suggest is scrap booking. Since she cannot write, maybe something you could do together is have her scrapbook / choose photos and narrate the captions to you. This may help with frustration some as it would use her strength (long term memory).

Another thing she could do is maybe an audio journal, if her speech is somewhat intact.

I also liked crafts with my patients. You can help write out the sequence or directions for her. Paint by numbers is good if their limbs are not weak or paralyzed.

[Deleted]

When did she have her stroke? Did she enjoy crafty things before? There are knitting 'looms' that are fairly easy to use. Or knotting quilting kits like this www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/alex/knot_a_quilt.cfm. Mosaic puzzles or faux stained glass kits might be fun.

[auntie]

Apr 16, 2014 19:51:59 GMT -5 @bostonjen said:

Coloring (you can download free adult coloring pages), puzzles

This. My aunt had a stroke and has dementia as a result. I send/do a lot of Dover coloring books with her. They have a whole range on old cars, fashions, movie stars, home designs. They jog her memory and keep her engaged. The staff at the memory unit have taken to making copies for other clients.

There are a couple freebie downloads that convert photographs to line drawings to color as well. I've made pictures from her old house, community, family, etc. These can be the scaffold for real conversations and connections.

[katfco]

What about card games? My stepdad has a lot of post-stroke effects, but with holders he can still play games like cards and scrabble and the like.

[auntie]

store.doverpublications.com/by-subject-coloring-books-history-coloring.html

[malibu]

Apr 16, 2014 19:33:53 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Specifically, activities for someone who can no longer read, write, drive, etc? Her memory pre-stroke is pretty good- she can recite poetry and lines from books that she read 40 years ago! But since the stroke, her short term memory is shot. She can't listen to audio books, as she gets too frustrated. 

When I visit, I want to be able to do something with her when I'm there, although she loves just chatting. She's also alone most of the time and if there's any sort of activity that she could do on her own, any suggestions would be great!

This describes my grandmother perfectly. She still oil paints (she taught in her home for decades), and does a little cross stitching.

How is her understanding of numbers (my G's stroke really messed with her ability to understand numbers, counting, etc)? Could you play Yahtzee, cards, or something like that (NOT CAH!!)?

Otherwise she watches a lot of TV and my mom is there quite often to take her grocery shopping or out to lunch/dinner.

[EmilieMadison]

Apr 16, 2014 20:34:09 GMT -5 malibu said:

Apr 16, 2014 19:33:53 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Specifically, activities for someone who can no longer read, write, drive, etc? Her memory pre-stroke is pretty good- she can recite poetry and lines from books that she read 40 years ago! But since the stroke, her short term memory is shot. She can't listen to audio books, as she gets too frustrated. 

When I visit, I want to be able to do something with her when I'm there, although she loves just chatting. She's also alone most of the time and if there's any sort of activity that she could do on her own, any suggestions would be great!

This describes my grandmother perfectly. She still oil paints (she taught in her home for decades), and does a little cross stitching.

How is her understanding of numbers (my G's stroke really messed with her ability to understand numbers, counting, etc)? Could you play Yahtzee, cards, or something like that (NOT CAH!!)?

Otherwise she watches a lot of TV and my mom is there quite often to take her grocery shopping or out to lunch/dinner.

She'd actually love CAH!! She is one of the first adults I ever heard swear, and she's got a wicked sense of humor!

Numbers and letters with meaning are gone  She watches a lot of tv and movies. 
I could maybe cook with her, though!

[EmilieMadison]

Thank you guys for all the great suggestions!
It's tough, she's still young (early 60s) and she's so sad about what she's missing. But you've given me some great ideas!

[mcsangel2]

I'm so sorry for your relative (your mom?), Emilie. I trust she sees a speech/occupational therapist and that you've been told it's not going to get better. When was her stroke?

I had a stroke 20 months ago, and I couldn't read or write for the first couple of days....that was the worst part. I only have small side effects left now and I can't listen to audiobooks either.

The suggestions of coloring books and painting are really good ones. Word searches *might* be useless UNLESS the doctor has given any hope about getting some of those cognitive skills back. I had to do a lot of word puzzles and such when I was recovering.

[tdk2]

I like the photo and caption ideas. I don't know If that would remind her too much of things she's missing, but it could help trigger stories.

The one thing I wonder about with games where she'd need to think of a word is if it would be frustrating. I know it's different in all cases, but with my grandma, we found she could talk and say a lot if we let her steer the conversation. But when we asked her a direct question or if she stumbled on a word, she'd get easily frustrated and couldn't speak much after because she was focusing so hard on a word that kept flitting away from her grasp. I know some of that is good to build connections and push the patient, but then again, it's probably something to work upon slowly. My grandma also liked photo books labeled with the names of our family members (clearly printed so easy to read). I think we had a fact or 2 about ea person (?). She read those and practiced with those, and it helped her nurses get to know who was who and let them have some conversations with her about people she knew long term.

So young for a stroke . Is it a relative of yours?

[EmilieMadison]

Thanks again for all the suggestions and kind words. This is not a relative, although I suppose she might as well be. It's my dudebff's mom, whom I've known since I was 12 and is like an aunt.

mcsangel2 The stroke was 8 years ago, and yes, they've been told that what is gone is gone. Her expressive and receptive language skills are still sharp, though. Painting, coloring, and other craft projects might be good, especially if I can start them with her.

tdk2, I worry about her frustration with missing things she does remember. She wanted to see pictures of our trip to Ireland and I was hesitant to show her the Long Library at Trinity College because I know how painful it is for her to think about libraries and what she'll never have back. But I showed her and she loved seeing it, even if it did make her a bit sad. She LOVES looking at pictures, so I think I'll make her a book (shutterfly, etc) of lots of pictures of things that she'd enjoy seeing- family, friends, places, etc.

[tdk2]

Apr 17, 2014 8:27:25 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Thanks again for all the suggestions and kind words. This is not a relative, although I suppose she might as well be. It's my dudebff's mom, whom I've known since I was 12 and is like an aunt.

mcsangel2 The stroke was 8 years ago, and yes, they've been told that what is gone is gone. Her expressive and receptive language skills are still sharp, though. Painting, coloring, and other craft projects might be good, especially if I can start them with her.

tdk2, I worry about her frustration with missing things she does remember. She wanted to see pictures of our trip to Ireland and I was hesitant to show her the Long Library at Trinity College because I know how painful it is for her to think about libraries and what she'll never have back. But I showed her and she loved seeing it, even if it did make her a bit sad. She LOVES looking at pictures, so I think I'll make her a book (shutterfly, etc) of lots of pictures of things that she'd enjoy seeing- family, friends, places, etc.

I watch hip 2save dot com for photo deals and make my kids cheapies that way. I used to do that for my grandma too.

I'm trying to remember - my grandma was an artist before the strokes. I can't remember but I think I recall she was really frustrated trying to paint, sew, or knit post stroke because she couldn't do what she used to.

I think maybe just gauge how she feels re trip pics. It might make her a bit sad, but it also sounds like she enjoys being included in what's in the world around her.

You are a great friend for going to see her as well. It's not easy because it is so heartbreaking but so appreciated by everyone.