At least you got a system and when it works hey no problem!! The Mall or even a Walmart is a great place to walk around the walls and you don't get tired or sweaty, it's air conditioned and safe plus you got something to hold on to without falling!! I did that on my breaks and at lunch time when I was working there for three years!! Come to think of it that may be a reason I do as good as I do now by what all I did in my early days!! I would go in the garden center and use the cart storage rails to exercise on when I didn't feel like walking!

See, I was allowed to used my scooter but can you imagine sitting down all day long?? I would always walk to the men's room most of the times I had to use it!! Other workers would say "Where is your scooter?"

Still now I walk the little puppy when she needs to go outside for her business that takes some time too!

Yes, I told hubby that when he gets a little stamina built up, then we'd go to Walmart where he could use the cart. Right now we are not ready because I can't drag a wheelchair behind him every step there! Also, the cart will not stay still, but move when he leans on it, so less recovery there should one go weak. But, it is just around the corner!

Sandy :

thats great idea, also if you have sace buy treadmill, and tell him towalk on it for few intervals of 5 mins 12 time holding, first start with low speed then slowly as endurance increases keep increasing speed 0.1 at a time & you will see his stamina & walking speed both will improve, only thing I wanted after my stroke was able to walk by myself to bathroom without audience, today I walk 11 miles 4 times in a week. nature walk is now one of my biggest joy in life only survivor can understand & appreciate.

Asha

Sandy: part of the fun with the writing, memory is finding out their new vocabulary. His "Filter Rainbow." Was he able to further define that for you? He may not be there yet, but it would be interesting to know what that was.

When Brittany was little, I worked second shift, so most nights Bruce did dinner, bath and bed. He thought he kept me up to date as to routine, but one evening when he was at a meeting, she refused to go to bed - running around the house, stamping her foot "Basket Tent, Basket Tent". Brittany was an easy child, almost never acted out, so I knew I was in trouble and had to call Bruce out of the meeting - no cell phones back then. Basket Tent was the hammock outside. They'd sit in it, talk about their day, what was on tomorrow's agenda. Down time really-she is ADHD. He never told me - LOL.

Fred has a great suggestion about the local mall, but the hospital would also work fine for you. AC, rails, WC. Plus a change of scenery. You may want to consider the light-weight WCs for outings, especially if he is walking so much. So much lighter and easier to handle. And it looks like that is all he is going to need very soon. I purchased some Velcro strips, so I can leash the WC to me, leaving my hands free and a quick release if need be. I really only use this is we go to the track, no rails.

Today, after errands, Bruce asked if we could go to the "water park." That is the local reservoir with great parking and picnic areas to just sit and have a coffee. Good week, Debbie

The only thing on my food page that he doesn't have, which must be his Filter Rainbow, is a fruit salad of mandarin oranges, nana, raspberries, blueberries & strawberries.

The only thing other than this he has done that is along these lines is twice he has road a recumbent type bike at therapy, with then securing his bad foot to the pedal with a very wide velcro type belt. The first time he rode 5 minues, then the next 10 minutes.

Sandy: that is terrific! the Filter Rainbow. And totally understandable. One sees so much insight and thought there.

You may have to consider the Walmart pedals - another reason to pop over and have some fun. If he is walking that far, on off days he could do the pedaling. And he would have it for the arms-shoulders as well. I am considering that for Bruce. I would have to move the leg-foot mostly for him. But getting him up to Outpatient for the EStim bike is tough right now.

And don't wait to go off on jaunts like shopping. I push Bruce in the WC, he either carries the basket or pushes the cart - one handed. Hasn't taken down any displays yet - LOL. I always offer the electric cart, but Bruce likes it our way. Debbie

I'm not sure what you mean by Walmart pedals.... do you mean the little bicycle type pedals that you sit in a chair and do with your feet? I got those for him a long time ago, I have to watch his foot on the pedal, and keep his knee from winging out, but other than that, he is good. The home therapist and I used to do the arms with it, but it did take 2 people, since he had nothing going with his arm. One to hold his arm on and the other to hold it steady on top the washer!

I think what was wonderful about the hospital went right over most people's heads here. Many people here are further along and have been working on it a long time, Bob just had his massive stroke Feb 29. You have to start with where they are and work up, it is a slow process. There are many things that I know are in his future, and have already thought of, but they are not now. When I saw the long unpopulated hallways with the wonderful handrails going all the way, I knew it would be perfect for him. I have waited till I knew he was ready for the challenge. No lifting the hemi-walker and step, lift, step. No losing energy to the walker. No noises to cause mental confusion, no kids jumping around and knocking into him - just him, plugging away at his goal. I say he took 500 steps, but don't translate that into someone standing up and just walking around like normal. He held the rail and DRUG himself doggedly around. He had the luxury to do that because there was a stable rail and no one around and it was something he could do at his own speed. Remember Bob has 50% vision loss and can only see from straight ahead and left. Also, he has mental confusion. Things have to go at his pace or they don't go at all. I'm willing to work right beside him, encouraging him all the way, but stopping short of what he is not ready for. The other things are definitely things that I have in place in my mind, waiting for the sign from him that it's time to try them. They will come, just like this did, in their own good time.