Beginning The Recovery Process Through Stroke Rehabilitation The goal of most stroke rehabilitation programs is to restore as much independence to the stroke victim as possible by improving their mental, physical and emotional functions. This must be done in a way that preserves the stroke survivor’s dignity and motivates them to re-learn basic life skills that may have been negatively affected by the stroke, such as dressing, walking and eating.
Stroke rehabilitation should begin in the hospital, as quickly as possible after the stroke. If the survivor is medically stable, rehabilitation may begin just one day after the stroke and should be continued even after release from the hospital, when needed. For other survivors, stroke rehabilitation can take place months or years after the stroke as the survivor’s conditions improve or in some cases, worsen.
Stroke rehabilitation options will depend on several factors including degree of disability, ability to tolerate intense rehabilitation, insurance coverage, available funding as well as your geographical area. The main options for survivors include acute care (inpatient) and rehab hospitals, sub-acute facilities, long-term facilities, outpatient facilities and home health agencies.
Health Care Team
During the multiple phases of stroke rehabilitation, the survivor will most likely work …