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My father has severe osteoarthitis and had 3 strokes. He cannot get out of bed by himself and deals with incontinence so he is in LTC. Since being there he is largely in denial that this is his new life. First he was hoping tramadol might be the fix that gets him to walk, that didn't work. Now he wants hip replacement which we are looking into. But even with a hip replacement, I'm not sure that it will be enough for him to walk again due to the damage done by the strokes.
Do you ever give up trying to find "solutions"? How do you help your loved one come to accept this as their new reality?
Don’t ever be the person who takes away his hope. Hope is vital for us all, even when it’s lost some of its realism. He will either find out the reality over time or a doctor will bring the news. You can “be working on it” or “continuing to look into options” but not the bearer of bad news. You be the family member who’s there to hold his hand and bring comfort
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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My uncle is also in severe denial with his immobility and is dealing with it very similar to your father. It is mentally draining keeping up the encouragement and optimism when chances are slim he will walk again. It's been 6 months and he also speaks of surgery, antibiotics and there is now anger because he exhausted the 100 days on Medicare PT and he feels they didn't give him a chance.

At this point the denial is most likely a coping mechanism and you should go with what he suggest and tell him he should ask the doctor. I wouldn't spend much time tryi.g to convince him because it could possibly add stress anger and resentment. My advice is nod and encourage his range of motion exercises. Good luck. and if it is too stressful during visits, it's okay to take an break from visiting to maintain your mental wellbeing.
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Reply to AMZebbC
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Stroke is a brain injury. Replacing a joint will therefore not cure any deficits caused by stroke.

However, a joint replacement may be of benefit to him if for other reasons. Eg Does he have severe hip pain? If so, does his Doctor say a hip replacement would benefit him? If so, is he a good candidate for surgery? (Factoring his stroke risk & dementia risk).

What's Dad's general mobility like? Walking well? Needing little supervision or assistance? Or needing assistance & equipment?

What's his general health like?
His memory?

It may be good to take in the wider view for him. (He may not be able to).

PS It is common for Stroke Survivors to lack insight. (Medical term: Anosognosia).

PPS I didn't bother mentioning his 'going home plan'. It's not a realistic plan, it's a wish. But for thoroughness sake you may consider looking into a hip replacement.. before you change that from the plan-list to wish-list.
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Reply to Beatty
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Tell him “ That’s a question for the doctor to answer.”
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Reply to waytomisery
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Give him the old nod and smile.
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Reply to ZippyZee
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With dementia there are no solutions, no wonder drugs, no going back to who you were.

Sometimes we caregivers just need to shake our heads up and down and go about our business, we cannot fix them or convince them that there is no cure.

I have used the line " When your doctor gives us a release letter that you can go back to your apartment we will consider this option, until then you will remain here".
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Reply to MeDolly
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