Stroke in the very elderly

[Lilycat]

My mother, who is 93 going on 94 had a significant hemorragic stroke on the left side of the brain on Feb. 19, 2008--2 1/2 weeks ago as of this writing. I would like to know more about the prognosis for someone her age. She had two noticable TIAs about six years ago (no treatment because she didn't recognize them), and was diagnosed with a carotid artery 80% blocked, so she has taken aspirin and Plavix since them. Since then, she has become gradually less active and more sleepy--typically 16, 18, or even more hours per day--and unsteady on her feet--, with balance problems, lack of motivation, and extremely poor short-term memory. No definite diagnosis was made beyond dementia, likely not Alzheimer's but due to vascular impairment.  I suspect she has had more small TIAs, and one that seemed noticable a few months ago..
     Her heart is strong and her arms and legs surprise everyone with their strength, tho' she becomes rigid when being placed in a wheelchair.  I found her some hours after the stroke--not sure how many, and she was treated in a stroke unit but is now in an ordinary nursing home with rehab services. Bleeding had stopped on its own by the morning after the stroke,  so no attempt to drain off excess blook from the brain was made. Her right side is now weaker than the left, she takes a long time to swallow, she often refuses to eat or drink, and she is very agitated--lots of "picking" and some arm-waving--unless she is sound asleep.  Sometimes she can answer a simple question with a logical word or two, but other times she says words and phrases that make some sense but aren't the correct one, e.g., "Right" for "yes." Most of her occasional words can be understood, but not all. I think she knows all the family members and close friends who visit, but sometimes gets the names wrong. Trouble counting and saying the alphabet, but can spell fairly well!
Can anyone comment on hemorragic stroke in someone of her advanced aga?
Thank you!

[Lilycat]

Amazing! Thank you for the feedback. What sort of treatment did your sweety-pie have? The problem most troubling to see right now (three weeks after the stroke) is her extreme agitation: picking at and removing her clothes, tossing and turning, pulling off the diaper, and trying to remove the catheter, which would no doubt be the worst of these behaviors. I get the sense that she has recovered to the point of realizing that something terrible has happened to her, but she is so frustrated about not being able to communicate or improve matters.

[caregiver222]

Well, my little sweety-pie had such a stroke in her 90's, was unable to walk, talk or recognize anyone at age 100, did not speak or show any signs of facial recognition for six months afterwards, and she had her 103rd birthday a week ago and feeds herself, is no longer fecally incontinent, and told me : "I've never been happier in my life!". And she gives the best hugs of anyone I know.