Eight Years Post Traumatic Brain InjuryMy mother has endured two years of my father’s failing health. Sadly, although she took care of him beautifully and steadfastly, at almost 89 he passed away this past July. She has now permanently moved near me. Unfortunately, because my father experienced dementia in his final years, he did not allow my mother to exercise (as was her normal routine) by walking outside of their home, confining her movements to just the interior of their small apartment. (He was afraid another man would take her away.) Therefore, for about three years the length of her exercise was severely impeded. This made her unsure of her strides and of her balance. She only was able to walk a short time before becoming afraid that she would fall. I offered to obtain a personal trainer to help her work up to where she was, but she adamantly refused.
I then gently suggested that she slowly increase her time of walking and to rest in between, but to try to walk twice a day (something she was accomplishing before being impeded by my late father). She followed my advice and started to walk two times a day and thank goodness, she appears to be walking much better - with a stronger, more even stride and with more confidence.
At the age of 80, she is mentally sharp, outgoing and somewhat eager to accomplish new frontiers (although negativity can sometimes rear its ugly head).
I am making sure that she is involved with book groups, theater, friends, etc., so that the twilight years of her life are rewarding ones. She has participated in a TBI support group. I continue to be grateful for her recovery and will still devote myself to helping as many survivors and caregivers as I possibly can.
