If an elderly parent or other loved one suffers a stroke, then you might be put in the position of becoming a caregiver for that individual. One of the most important things a caregiver can do in this situation is to help the stroke victim navigate the rehabilitation process. This article takes a look at some key facts about stroke rehabilitation all caregivers should know.

Length of Time

The length of time that a patient undergoes the stroke rehabilitation process varies depending on the patient and their specific circumstances. The severity of a stroke is a very important factor, as is the patient's motivation and the quality of rehabilitative care that they receive.

Typically, stroke patients make the most progress in a rehabilitation program during the first three or four months after the stroke occurs. Some patients, however, continue to make significant progress even after a year or two years of rehabilitation therapy.

Physical Therapy

Stroke victims typically have physical limitations due to the damage that was done to their body by the stroke. For this reason, physical therapy plays a crucial role during the rehabilitation period. Proper physical therapy can improve a patient's motor function significantly in many cases. One study shows that physical therapy is helpful even if it is not started immediately after the stroke. The research, done by the University of Florida, shows that intensive physical therapy that begins as late as one year after the onset of the stroke often helps patients increase their motor function.

Cognitive Therapy

In addition to causing physical damage to patients, strokes can also impair the cognitive function of its victims. For instance, issues with memory often plague stroke victims. In some cases, patients may have trouble retaining new information. Other patients might have no issue remembering recent events or information, but get the details mixed up or out of sequence. This makes cognitive therapy an important part of any stroke rehabilitation program. Cognitive therapists help patients by getting them to perform activities that improve cognitive skills, such as playing dominoes or solving word puzzles.

Emotions

Strokes often play havoc with a victim's emotions. Your family member or loved one may not be able to control their emotions the way they did in the past. This problem can interfere with a patient's rehabilitation if it's ignored. As a caregiver, watch the patient for any signs of emotional issues and report them to the health care professionals in charge of the victim's recovery.

To learn more about this subject, contact a facility that offers stroke rehabilitation services.

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