each year, approximately 110,000 people in England, 11,000 people in Wales and 4,000 people in Northern Ireland have a first or recurrent stroke
most people survive a first stroke but often have significant morbidity. More than 900,000 people in England are living with the effects of stroke
a stroke unit is:
an environment in which multidisciplinary stroke teams deliver stroke care in a dedicated ward which has a bed area, dining area, gym, and access to assessment kitchens
the stroke rehabilitation unit is a medical ward where emphasis is placed on the contribution of the:
consultant physicians
nurses
physiotherapists
occupational therapists
speech and language therapists
clinical psychologists
rehabilitation assistants
social workers
the patient is gradually encouraged to maximise his or her capabilities and taught to use strategies to get around specific functional problems. Mechanical aids and modification to the home are planned according to need
a tailored community care package is planned prior to discharge
40% of patients who survive a stroke for 6 months will require help with one or more activities of daily living
most patients experience greatly diminished social interaction so day care services are valuable
the time spent on the stroke rehabilitation unit is often measured in months as progress may be slow
stroke patients have a better prognosis if they are rehabilitated on a dedicated stroke rehabilitation unit. The main advantages are:
reduced mortality
improved activities of daily living on discharge
possibly shorter length of stay
Reference:
1) Stroke Unit Trialists' Collaboration. Collaborative systematic review of the randomised trials of organised inpatient (stroke unit) care after stroke. BMJ 1997; 314: 1151-9.
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