Sroke Recovery: He Can but Does He?

On assessing 29 consecutive stroke patients attending the Day Hospital of the Geriatric Unit it was found that there was a difference in what the patient could do in the unit and did do at home. Each activity of daily living was less well performed in the home situation in 25-45% of cases. In 52% of cases the chief carer claimed that the patient did not do two or more activities at home which the patient was capable of in the Day Hospital. This was not related to the features of the stroke but more to the attitude of the patient and his chief carer. Patients starting therapy late also did less well at home than in the rehabilitation unit. These findings emphasize the need to train the chief carer as well as the patient and also suggest the possible need for more home-orientated rehabilitation.