| Recovering from a stroke varies greatly upon the | | | | hospital and is performed by an organized team that |
| individual, type of stroke, and the severity of the | | | | specializes in rehabilitation therapy. |
| damage it has caused to the brain. For many patients | | | | This type of therapy is typically more intense than |
| this is typically a long process and involves many | | | | other forms of therapy and generally requires a great |
| different forms of treatment including rehabilitation. | | | | amount of effort on the part of the patient. Many |
| While some individuals may experience a certain | | | | nursing homes or nursing facilities also provide |
| degree of spontaneous recovery, others will need a | | | | rehabilitation programs for stroke patients who stay |
| great deal of therapy to regain the abilities that they | | | | in the facility, however, these types of programs |
| have lost and the type of rehabilitation varies | | | | vary greatly from one facility to another with some |
| depending upon the area of the brain that was | | | | providing full rehabilitation programs while others only |
| damaged and the severity. | | | | provide a limited amount of services. |
| The First Steps of Rehabilitation | | | | There are many types of outpatient rehabilitation |
| After the patient has been treated for the | | | | programs where the patient can remain at home |
| immediate medical concerns following a stroke and | | | | while receiving rehabilitation therapy by visiting a |
| examined for any other underlying medical conditions | | | | hospital outpatient facility through scheduled |
| and the severity of the damage has been | | | | appointments. In home rehabilitation services are also |
| determined, the first step for treatment is typically | | | | available in which a therapist visits the patient's home. |
| to have the patient get out of bed as soon as | | | | This type of rehabilitation can be particularly beneficial |
| possible and begin moving around and performing | | | | for some patients as they are able to regain the skills |
| everyday self-care tasks such as eating. | | | | normally used in their own home. There are also |
| The next step involves deciding upon the type of | | | | many types of specific therapy such as speech |
| rehabilitation program. While some patients may not | | | | therapy that can be obtained on an outpatient basis |
| require rehabilitation due to a full recovery and others | | | | or within the home. |
| may have disabilities that are too severe for | | | | The process of recovering from a stroke also |
| rehabilitation, many individuals benefit significantly | | | | involves the support of friends and family members |
| from rehabilitation programs specifically designed for | | | | as well as certain modifications that can be made to |
| stroke patients. | | | | the home for mobility and safety precautions. Medical |
| Types of Rehabilitation Programs | | | | professionals that specialize in the treatment of |
| There are several types of rehabilitation programs | | | | stroke patients can advise the patient and family |
| including those that are done within the hospital. | | | | members in the best way to optimize the home |
| Hospital rehabilitation programs typically provide full | | | | based upon the specific needs of the individual. |
| rehabilitation services while the patient remains in the | | | | |