There’s an interesting article about stroke rehabilitation by Tori DeAngelis in the March 2010 issue of the Monitor on Psychology. In “New help for stroke survivors,” she writes about research showing that a “transfer package” is an essential component in maintaining the gains of inpatient rehab once the patient returns home. The transfer package includes elements such as “behavioral contracts, progress diaries, phone calls with their therapists and physical restraint of the arm outside the training setting.”
I believe some of these elements could be easily generated by the nursing home rehab staff prior to departure, such as a behavioral contract, and others could be implemented through a stroke-oriented support group following discharge. Residents would benefit if nursing home staff helped connect them to online and in person support groups prior to discharge.
There are several organizations that provide information and support for stroke survivors. I’ve listed some of them below:
Useful information regarding providing rehabilitation assistance for seniors that is recovering from stroke.
Thanks, Senior Homes. Future posts will include more about psychology research in long-term care.
Dr. El,
Having worked with people who have had strokes for so long, I found the article, "New help for stroke survivors," very interesting. It is not hard to see how support groups, following discharge, would be extremely helpful. I will pass the information on to the Social Workers in my facility. I would also like to add that I have visited the website of the National Stroke Association and found the amount of information they have available is quite extensive (I have not had a chance to checkout the other two that you have mentioned.) as well as very clearly written. Thank you for bringing my attention to it.
Thanks for your comment, Sue. I'd like to see residents get more support information in general for their physical conditions. I've noticed very few residents over the years who have joined organizations related to their health problems, but I think it would be helpful for many of them even while they're in the nursing home.
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