Rehabilitation programs vary widely, the guideline advises, so knowledge about what a particular nursing home, hospital or other facility offers is essential. Evaluations to determine what rehabilitation program a patient needs should use standardized tests, the guideline says, and should be conducted by someone experienced in stroke rehabilitation. D. Rehabilitation treatment programs can be very demanding on stroke survivors, their families and caregivers as they work to adjust to the stroke's impact on their daily lives, said Gaus. Since the effects of stroke can be as wide-ranging as the settings in which rehabilitation takes place, making the right match between stroke survivors' needs and the appropriate rehabilitation services is a challenge. Widespread adoption of the guideline should increase the cost-effectiveness and value of rehabilitation by promoting more uniform and appropriate services for evaluation and care.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults in the United States.
Stroke survivors may need help learning how to walk again, or talk. Almost 75 percent of all strokes occur in people 65 years of age or older. Good matching, Gresham said, is the result of good evaluation. The guideline also gives specific criteria from these tools to help determine admittance to different kinds and levels of rehabilitation programs. Otherwise, people may get sent to a place that does not best suit their needs.