May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Throughout the month, we have shared information on how to reduce your risk for a stroke and what to do if you suspect you or a loved one are experiencing a stroke.

Today, Angie Eaton, director of post-acute therapy services at Aultman, discusses what to expect from inpatient rehab after a stroke.

After a stroke, patients often need a short stay in a rehabilitation facility, such as the Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation Facility located on the Aultman Woodlawn campus, before going home. There, they participate in an intense program that addresses their medical needs and functional recovery.

The program consists of around-the-clock nursing care, visits from a doctor at least three times per week and intense therapy for at least three hours per day on five days per week. In therapy, patients work on the functional activities needed to be able to return to their home and take care of themselves. Therapy might include the following:

• Mobility training. Learn to get out of bed, out of the chair and walk with a device.
• Neuromuscular re-education. Retrain the brain, nervous system and muscles to work together so the patient can be as independent as possible.
• Cognitive therapy. Improve thinking skills such as memory, problem solving and safety awareness.
• Communication strategies. Improve speaking, listening and comprehension.
• Adaptive equipment. Learn to use equipment to help with self-care tasks such as bathing and dressing.

Inpatient rehabilitation staff also work with the patient on:

• Swallow therapy. Bedside assessments and/or imaging help determine the safest diet and any strategies needed to prevent choking or aspiration.
• Home assessment and modification. Therapists visit the home with the patient and their family to identify equipment and strategies that will make the discharge to home as safe and comfortable as possible.
• Caregiver training. Inpatient rehabilitation staff works with caregivers early and often throughout the rehab stay so they can continue providing care for their loved one after leaving rehab.

The first three months after a stroke are the most important for recovery. Specialists say that patients see the most improvement during this period. Optimizing that time with two to three weeks in an inpatient rehabilitation program gives the brain and nervous system the best chance for recovery. The goal of inpatient rehabilitation is to restore function as much as possible and to develop strategies to maximize your independence.