Where Can a Stroke Survivor Receive Post-Stroke Therapy?
Have you or a loved one recently suffered a stroke? Are you looking for information about post-stroke therapy? Then this article is for you. This article will discuss the categories of medical clinics where stroke patients can go to receive post-stroke therapy. This article will discuss inpatient rehabilitation units, outpatient units, nursing facilities and home-based rehabilitation programs.
In the United States of America approximately 700,000 individuals suffer a stroke each year and roughly two-thirds of these people survive and require post-stroke therapy. The goal of this therapy is to help stroke survivors become as independent as possible. Even though post-stroke therapy does not "cure" the survivor in that it does not reverse the damage to the brain, therapy can help survivors achieve the best-possible long-term outcome.
Where can survivors receive post-stroke therapy?
Post-stroke therapy should begin as soon as possible. Once the stroke survivor is stable therapy often begins within 24 to 48 hours. The initial stage of rehabilitation commonly occurs within an acute-care hospital. When the survivor is discharged, the family and the survivor commonly coordinate with hospital social workers to find a suitable living arrangement. A majority of stroke survivors return to their homes, however some move to some type of medical facility.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Units
Some inpatient 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. These programs often involve more than 3 hours of active therapy per day up to 6 days per week. Inpatient rehabilitation units offer a wide range of medical services including full-time supervision from a physician as well as access to a number of therapists specializing in post-stroke therapy.
Outpatient Units
Outpatient units may also be freestanding or part of a larger hospital complex. The latter offer survivors access to physicians as well as a number of therapists who specialize in therapy. Survivors commonly spend several hours per day for as many as 3 days per week at the outpatient unit taking part in therapy sessions and later returning home. Comprehensive outpatient units usually offer treatment programs equally intensive as those offered at inpatient units but they also offer regimes that are less demanding depending on the physical capacity of the survivor.
Nursing Facilities
Nursing facilities commonly offer rehabilitative services that are more variable than the services at inpatient and outpatient units. High quality nursing facilities commonly place a greater emphasis on post-stroke therapy, whereas traditional nursing facilities emphasize residential care. Also, these facilities usually offer fewer hours of therapy relative to inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation units.
Home-based Rehabilitation Programs
Home rehabilitation or therapy allows for an increase in flexibility so that survivors can tailor their rehabilitation program and follow a personal schedule. Post-stroke therapy patients commonly participate in an intensive level of rehab several hours per week but can also participate in a less or more demanding regimen. Home-based rehabilitation programs are best suited for individuals who lack transportation or can benefit from post-stroke therapy by only one type of therapist.
There are a number of outpatient rehab facilities specialize in providing highly-intensive neurotherapy based on the principles of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT). There are numerous variations of this therapy but the main component involves forced use of the affected limb for as much as 5-6 hours per day for 5 plus days per week. There are only a few clinics in the U.S. that offer this treatment and the program is can be expensive, not to mention the cost of travel and accommodation for the patient and family members that is usually necessary to stay in the vicinity of the clinic.
About the Author:
Ed Koeneman is COO and co-founder of Kinetic Muscles (KMI). KMI is a leading provider of products for stroke recovery. For more information about The Hand Mentor(TM), The Foot Mentor (TM) or any of our post-stroke therapy products, visit our website.
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