Where to Go for Stroke Rehab or Post-Stroke Treatment Have you or a loved one recently suffered a stroke? Are you looking for information about stroke rehabilitation or stroke treatment? Then this article is for you. This article will discuss the common goal of the various forms of stroke rehab as well as discuss the medical facilities stroke survivors can visit for stroke rehab.
The goal of the majority of stroke rehab programs is to restore as much independence to the stroke survivor as possible by improving their mental, physical and emotional functions. This must be done in a way that preserves the individual’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 rehab 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 stroke rehab options for survivors include acute care (inpatient) and rehab hospitals, long-term facilities, outpatient facilities and home health agencies.
Acute Care Stroke Rehab Units
Some impatient rehabilitation units are freestanding while others are part of larger hospital complexes. Stroke survivors commonly stay in the facility for 2 to 3 weeks while engaging in coordinated and intensive therapy programs.
Outpatient Units
Outpatient units are commonly part of a larger hospital complex and offer survivors access to physicians as well as a number of therapists who specialize in therapy.
Long-Term Facilities
Long-term facilities commonly offer rehabilitative services that are more variable than the services at acute stroke rehab and outpatient units. High quality long-term facilities commonly place a greater emphasis on stroke rehab, whereas traditional nursing facilities emphasize residential care.
Home Health Agencies
Home health agencies allows for an increase in flexibility so that survivors can tailor their rehabilitation program and follow a personal schedule. Stroke rehab patients commonly participate in an intensive level of rehab several hours a week but can also participate in a less or more demanding regimen.
Contact your personal doctor for more information about health care facilities and stroke rehabilitation.