[Dysphagia] Basal ganglia stroke?

[bonnieh4455 at sbcglobal.net (Bonnie Heintskill)]

My dad had a basal ganglia stroke about 2 weeks ago while I was on vacation.
My sister is Dad's caregiver and lives with him.  She doesn't know exactly
where the stroke happened, as of yet, as he hasn't been back to the MD.  His
speech is affected - imprecise articulation, some word finding problems, and
his balance/walking ability has been affected.  The CT scan showed that he
had a prior stroke and in my dad's words, there was a "dried up area" in his
brain.  Don't know where that area is either. I have sent an email to my
sister with my questions for the MD when she takes my dad.

My sister and dad came to town today (they live an hour away from me) and I
met them halfway to give them a walker with wheels and brakes and a
wheelchair (when needed).  I could tell on the telephone about his speech
and word finding difficulties.  I observed him at lunch and he didn't have
any problems with swallowing difficulties until near the very end of his
meal. He had a wet vocal quality and delayed coughing after finishing his
meal. He has had pneumonia once in late winter (not related to the stroke to
the first, I would guess).

He has been put on Plavix and aspirin daily.  I have never worked with a
basal ganglia stroke patient before.  My dad is depressed as his health has
been steadily going down hill the last few years, but he is very cognitively
intact.  What should I expect for him for prognosis? Any therapy I can do
with him (not that he'd be cooperative) <G>.

I have to go down to his house and take care of him for 3 days this weekend
as my sister is going out of town.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Bonnie Heintskill, MS, CCC/SLP
Milwaukee WI area