Staten Island Reporter

Stroke rehabilitation is a critical process for patients recovering from the serious medical emergency of a stroke. This condition occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when bleeding occurs in or around the brain. Rehabilitation offers patients the best chance for recovery, though it involves a multifaceted approach that can vary significantly between individuals.

Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York, certified as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, provides insights into what patients and their caregivers can expect during rehabilitation. The center emphasizes that recovery is influenced by emotional, physical, social, and therapeutic factors. Treatments may include physical therapy, cognitive skill activities, and individual or group therapy sessions.

A comprehensive medical team supports patients at Richmond University Medical Center's Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center. This team may include primary care physicians who offer health guidance post-stroke and neurologists specializing in nervous system issues. Nurses assist with managing recovery-related issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Various therapists play crucial roles in rehabilitation:

- Physical therapists focus on strengthening weakened body areas.

- Occupational therapists help improve motor skills necessary for daily tasks.

- Speech therapists work on communication and cognitive abilities.

- Physiatrists use both physical and occupational therapies to address physical injuries.

Social workers are also integral to overcoming barriers like financial issues or lack of resources by helping organize support groups and making rehabilitation decisions.

Rehabilitation typically begins in the hospital once a patient is stabilized after a stroke. Post-discharge options include inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), long-term care facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, or home/outpatient settings. Each option offers different levels of care based on patient needs.

The theme across many rehabilitation plans is repetition to train balance, coordination, strength, motor skills, speech, vision, and cognitive ability. Professionals assist patients in adjusting to life changes following their stroke.

Richmond University Medical Center encourages those affected by strokes to reach out for more information about recovery processes and support available through their award-winning team.