Abstracted by Sheila Kun RN, BA, BSN, MS.

Aggressive rehabilitation is the dominant theme for stroke survivors. How much one can regain his/her function is dependent on many factors such as the extent of the injury, age, and oftentimes the timing of the diagnosis. 

Regardless of the causes of the stroke, one of the goals for stroke patients after their intensive care is access to rehabilitation centers that specialize in stroke recovery. The primary physicians will make recommendations of where the rehabilitation centers are most suited for optimal recovery. Below is the discussion from the American Stroke Association on “Life After Stroke”.

There is life—and hope—after a stroke. With time, new routines will become second nature. Rehabilitation can build strength, capability and confidence

Stroke can be beatable. Rehabilitation is key to achieving and celebrating all the small victories along your way to recovery.

While strokes can vary in type and severity, many patients and their loved ones have been where they are now—facing important decisions about rehab that must be made quickly. Stroke recovery can seem overwhelming, but rehabilitation can help you regain your strength, your courage and your independence. Our tools and resources can help.

Use our resources to help you expand your knowledge of the latest rehabilitation guidelines and to properly address the needs of your stroke patients.

Support That Empowers

Recovery becomes so much more manageable when you have the right kind of emotional support. Our online community of patients, survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles. We’ve been there, and we won’t let you go it alone.

Find Encouragement

Sheila’s note: How fast one can recover from stroke varies. The rehabilitation program facilitates recovery of functions. One point that I want to emphasize is the “encouragement” aspects during this phase of recovery. Exercises and muscle, speech, and cognitive training are not easy tasks. The families have to be patient. I always say: “No one wants to do a bad job.” Please do not blame your stroke patients for not trying hard enough. On the other hand, perhaps you can make the physical or occupational therapies more tolerable by distraction, or making them a little more fun? I found it helpful to talk to the patient on topics that they enjoy while practicing on their hand or leg routines.

Your homework from the Care Ministry this week: Do you have other suggestions that make exercises more fun?