Patients generally stay in the hospital for two to three days after a stroke.
Stroke Rehabilitation
Stroke patients will need some follow-up care after treatment based on the severity of stroke damage or disability. This rehabilitation can occur at home with assistance, in a rehabilitation hospital, in a long-term care facility or at an outpatient facility. Stroke victims may work on self-care skills that are more difficult after stroke, from dressing and feeding themselves to memory and mobility skills. A mix of speech, physical and occupational therapies are often prescribed. Learn more about stroke rehabilitation with expert advice from Sharecare.
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HealthyWomen answeredDepending on a person's needs after a stroke, rehabilitation can take place in an acute care and rehabilitation hospital, in a long-term care facility, at home (with assistance provided through a home health agency) and/or at an outpatient facility. Talk to your doctor about the best approach for your situation, and look for a care facility that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
The most effective rehabilitation programs involve a multidisciplinary approach: physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, along with optimal medical care, in a calming environment and coordinated by a doctor with expertise in neurorehabilitation.
The ultimate goal is for individuals who have suffered a stroke to achieve the greatest degree of independence in the least restrictive environment possible. Time will be spent developing self-care skills such as feeding, grooming, bathing and dressing; mobility skills including walking or self-propelling a wheelchair; speech and language skills; memory or problem-solving skills and skills necessary for social interaction.
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Dr. Adrian A. Jarquin-Valdivia, MD , Neurology, answered on behalf of TriStar Centennial Medical CenterStroke rehabilitation therapy has many benefits for the person who had a stroke, their family and society. Stroke rehabilitation therapy is treatment and support from occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, nutritionists, other professionals, family and friends. Stroke has a huge impact on a family, and society—not just the person who had the stroke. If a person has a stroke, he or she has a higher chance of disability and difficulties later on in life. People have to begin speech, occupational and physical therapy. Imagine plumbers who can no longer use their dominant hand. They will have to relearn their trade. Imagine no longer being able to speak normally. People have to relearn to talk. Imagine police officers who now cannot see half of the world—how will they do their tasks? Stroke changes people’s future goals and plans. About one in two patients will become depressed and those with depression are less likely to participate in rehabilitation.
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Rebecca ONeill , Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, answered on behalf of Englewood Community HospitalSee All 3 Answers
What kind of rehabilitation programs are available to stroke victims? Watch this video with Rebecca O'Neill, OT, in outpatient rehabilitation with Englewood Community Hospital, to learn about the options that are available.
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See All 2 AnswersJason Bywaters, MA, CCC-SLP from Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center discusses the role of a speech pathologist in stroke rehabilitation in this video.
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See All 3 AnswersRehabilitation following a stroke begins in the hospital, where staff determines the kind of rehabilitation you'll need. Learn more from Jill Tyroller, Stroke Coordinator, from Reston Hospital Center in this video.
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See All 2 AnswersPatients generally stay in the hospital for two to three days after a stroke. Learn more from Jill Tyroller, Stroke Coordinator, from Reston Hospital Center in this video.
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Dr. Steven A. Meyers, MD , Diagnostic Radiology, answered on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystemSee All 2 AnswersStrokes vary greatly in the degree of disability that they cause. Most stroke survivors can return home and to their usual activities. Many stroke patients may require rehabilitation either in a facility or at home for some period of time after they leave the hospital. -
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SCAI answeredSee All 3 AnswersOver the past 30 years, improvements in the treatment of heart attack have dramatically reduced the number of deaths and disabilities caused by heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked.
Now, new treatments are available that may also revolutionize stroke care.
The medical community is taking aim at improving the outcomes for stroke, currently the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disabilities in the United States.
Stroke outcomes can be improved if:
Americans become much more aware of the warning signs of stroke - and of the urgent need for medical help if they experience one or more of them;Emergency medical and hospital admissions systems are established to ensure that anyone with stroke symptoms is taken to a stroke center and treated as soon as possible;More physicians are trained in interventional procedures to treat stroke. In interventional procedures, a physician inserts a catheter (a thin tube) into an artery in the leg, arm or neck and guides it through the blood vessels to the site in the brain that is narrowed or blocked. He or she then delivers devices or other therapies through the catheter to open the blocked vessel and restore blood flow. More cardiologists are trained in neuro-rescue procedures that allow physicians to remove clots from the brain using interventional techniques and newly clot-retrieval devices. Attached to a tiny wire, the device is inserted via a catheter through a very small cut in the femoral artery in the groin, or upper thigh, and advanced to the carotid artery in the neck. (The carotid arteries supply the brain with blood and a stroke can result when the arteries are blocked). The wire is threaded through the clot. When the device is deployed, its coiled wire forms a “basket” around the clot, allowing the physician to pull the whole clot from the body and restore blood flow to the brain. -
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Dr. Natalia S. Rost, MD , Neurology, answeredSee All 2 AnswersOutpatient stroke rehabilitation facilities allow you to live at home but come during the day for rehabilitation, generally at a hospital or other facility. Here, you will work with physicians and therapists who specialize in stroke rehabilitation. You usually spend several hours a day, several days a week, at the facility. Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social or psychological counseling. To attend outpatient rehabilitation, you need to be physically able to travel between the facility and your home. Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities offer more flexibility than inpatient facilities because the programs can be adjusted to your needs.