title: After a stroke: strategies to restore function and prevent complications.
abstract: Mortality and morbidity are high in elderly stroke patients. Early mobilization and prevention of stroke-related complications improve their ability to participate in a more intense and comprehensive rehabilitation program. An interdisciplinary approach to stroke rehabilitation restores functional loss, improves quality of life, and decreases long-term economic costs. Important parts of stroke rehabilitation include patient and family education, treatment of stroke-related complications, and prevention of recurrent stroke. A healthy and caring spouse, continence of bladder and bowel, and ability to feed oneself are the most positive predictors of stroke outcome.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation Unit, Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D010045:Outpatients; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence