Stroke – a major health issue that keeps taking on more and more lives, and leaving those that have been spared from death seriously impaired requires what is referred to as the stroke rehabilitation process. Here, we will review and answer some of the biggest questions linked to stroke and programs for rehabilitation and focus on why a proper stroke rehabilitation process can make a big difference in the quality of life of those that have been affected by it.
Table of Contents
Types of stroke
Stroke is the term that is used to refer to the fifth leading cause of death around the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year, nearly 140,000 Americans died by a stroke. Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke, with at least one person dying of stroke every 4 minutes.
There are three different types of stroke, depending on the cause that has led to it – transient ischemic attack (TIA), ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke, with these three, further breaking down into more specific types. It is because of a blockage in the arteries that an ischemic stroke happens, whereas the cause for a hemorrhagic one is a blood vessel rupturing and bleeding.
Certain individuals struggle with a higher risk of stroke as compared to the general population. The list of common risk factors includes having an unhealthy diet, being a smoker, having a sedentary lifestyle, struggling with other health issues, having a medical and/or family history of stroke, etc. By eliminating these risk factors, you are efficiently reducing your risk of a stroke happening.
Complications of stroke
All strokes cause damage to the brain cells and tissues due to the lack of oxygen. These events lead to mild to more serious consequences, depending on various factors such as age, cause, overall health status, etc. The consequences, no matter how big or small, can seriously decrease the patient’s quality of life.
What types of disabilities could be expected to occur depends on which brain part/s have been affected by the stroke itself. One or more brain areas can be affected, causing different complications, such as:
- Speech and language issues
- Loss of mobility
- Emotional disturbances
- Vision issues
- A decline in self-care abilities and active lifestyle
- Issues related to sexual ability
- Bowel and bladder control issues
- Cognitive issues – a decline in problem-solving skills
Stroke Specialty Inpatient Program (SSIP) at CMRC
Our program capabilities effectively address various stroke-related issues:
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Complex Medical Needs:
Our medical team can manage post-stroke complications and provide comprehensive care. -
Physical Rehabilitation:
Our rehabilitation plans cover mild motor deficits to severe physical disabilities. -
Cognitive and Communicative Recovery:
Our specialists help patients regain their ability to interact with the world through targeted cognitive and communication interventions. -
Psychosocial Support:
Stroke can be emotionally draining, so we offer emotional support and assistance to patients and families. -
Continuous Care:
We offer homecare in addition to inpatient and outpatient services to ensure a smooth transition and consistent care.
About SSIP in Cambridge
Hours of Service:
The SSIP provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week medical, rehabilitation, and nursing care.
Admission requirements:
Criteria for diagnosis:
- A vascular accident, such as an ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage, must have occurred.
- Patients’ medical, cognitive, physical, communicative, and/or behavioral needs should be related to the stroke or disease process.
Age Requirement:
- Patients must be 18 or older upon admission.
- Admission is possible for individuals aged 1-17 with CMRC Pediatric Program consultation.
The patient must have unique medical, cognitive, physical, communication, and behavioral needs that cannot be met in outpatient, community, or home rehabilitation settings.
- Potential for Rehabilitation:
The patient must have a clear potential for specialized inpatient rehabilitation. An interdisciplinary team evaluates this within a set timeframe. - Under CMRC Medical Care:
Patient must receive coordinated and expert-led rehabilitation care, the individual must be under the care of a CMRC Medical Rehabilitation Specialist(s). - Long-Term Stay Option:
If the preadmission assessment identifies a need for long-term placement due to complex or specific needs, funding, and location must be confirmed before admission.
Each patient admitted to the Stroke Inpatient Program is carefully selected to maximize program outcomes. We offer stroke survivors a supportive, multidisciplinary environment for recovery and rehabilitation.
Admission Phase: Interdisciplinary Assessment
- Holistic Evaluation: Our interdisciplinary team performs a holistic assessment of patients admitted to the Stroke Inpatient Program (SIP). This team comprises physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, nursing, and social work experts.
- Identifying Individual Needs: The assessment determines the patient’s medical, cognitive, physical, communicative, and behavioral needs. A personalized care plan requires this thorough understanding.
Range of Services in Stroke Specialty Inpatient Program:
Upon admission, patients undergo a comprehensive interdisciplinary assessment, forming the basis for a tailored treatment plan. Our services include but are not limited to:
- Daily Living Skills: Activities of daily living (ADL) assessment and training.
- Physical Rehabilitation: Including aquatic physiotherapy, mobility assessment, and orthotics training.
- Communication Support: Speech/language assessment and training, as well as audiology screening.
- Cognitive and Psychological Care: Cognitive rehabilitation and psychosocial interventions.
- Health and Well-being: Medical management, nutritional counseling, and relaxation techniques.
- Specialized Training: Adaptive equipment and assistive technology training for enhanced independence.
- Family Involvement: Comprehensive support including education and counseling for families and carers.
- Comprehensive Discharge Planning: To ensure a smooth transition back to home or community settings.
Why is rehabilitation important?
Once a stroke happens, all stroke survivors are admitted into a post-stroke rehabilitation process. The length of the stroke recovery process depends on various factors such as age, sex, medical history, complications, and consequences that have happened due to stroke, etc. Those who have suffered mild consequences may require only acute care, whereas others may even require long-term care, many of them requiring this type of care throughout their lifetime.
This process includes a rehabilitation team that consists of different medical professionals – from nurses, doctors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, to social workers, all of which are meant to help with any of the issues that are causing a decline in the health-related quality of life. Family members of the patient also have a meaningful role in the post-stroke rehabilitation process even in a long-term care facility.
These professionals specialize in finding a solution to being the problem-solvers as they are. They use all of their knowledge and previous experience working with other patients in the past to create a program that is individual for each patient. This program includes defining the problem in terms of consequences and complications that the patient is experiencing and helping the patient to relearn the skills that have been either decreased or completely lost due to stroke.
Without a proper rehabilitation process, no stroke survivor can continue living a quality life because of the complex problems that he/she will face on a day-to-day basis. The whole process begins in acute care 24 to 48 hours after the stroke. It later continuous in a post-acute rehabilitation facility, and when needed, it can also include residential care in the patient’s own home or nursing home care where the patient is living.
What does the rehabilitation process after stroke include?
This recovery process requires specialized clinical rehabilitation teams including consultant physicians, GPs, PMR consultants, skilled nursing, and social workers in addition to attention, patience, and hard work. According to the National Stroke Association, up to 10% of the stroke survivors make an almost-complete recovery, with 25% of the survivors living with only mild consequences. Another 10% require further care in nursing homes. So, what does the rehabilitation process for the stroke survivors include?
- Rehabilitation Medicine Specialists
Leading the team, these specialists oversee the entire rehabilitation process and personalize the treatment of every patient plan.
- Case Management
Coordinate care and provide vital resources to patients and their families.
- Rehab Nursing
- Patient Experience & Recreational Teams
Creating an interactive rehabilitation journey to improve mental health and cognitive function after stroke.
- Other Specialists
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
Because many patients face a decline in their self-care abilities, they require an occupational therapist. An occupational therapist works with stroke survivors to help them relearn how to complete everyday activities such as cooking, eating, dressing, bathing, and even reading and writing. Relearning these skills will benefit the patient’s mental health greatly since many of them are experiencing depression and anxiety due to being dependent on other people’s help to complete these everyday activities.
- Speech therapy
- Cognitive therapy
- Support from family members and friends
Conclusion
Stroke is a serious health issue that causes multiple complications and consequences, and may even lead to death. It is up to the rehabilitation team to help the patient combat any issues and decreased abilities that he/she faces due to the stroke itself. Rehabilitation is an essential part of the treatment process if any real effort in the patient’s condition is to be seen.
If you or a loved one is dealing with the consequences of stroke, we highly encourage you to ask for help. Use Google engine to search for “Inpatient stroke rehabilitation centers near me in Abu Dhabi or al ain” and you will find Cambridge is always near to you. Do not allow the consequences of the stroke to take over your life and join the thousands of stroke survivors that are living a healthy life despite their history of stroke.
Why Cambridge?
Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center is the specialized provider for Long-term Care and rehabilitation services in the United Arab Emirates. With 2 main facilities in Abu Dhabi & Al Ain, which are designed in a rehabilitation and long-term care hospital with a capacity of 90 beds each.
Cambridge provides an interdisciplinary clinical approach for Stroke Rehabilitation which is customized for adults and adolescents. The best rehabilitation services are not only our goal but our ultimate objective is to customize the care plan for each patient and make sure that the patient’s family and their members are integrated into the treatment plan.
Either you joined Abu Dhabi hospital or Al Ain hospital for any kind of our rehabilitation services or even for long-term care you will feel as if you are at #Your Second Home.
