Living setting and utilisation of ADL assistance one year after a stroke with special reference to gender differences.
OBJECTIVE
To examine living setting and need for ADL assistance before and one year after a first-ever stroke with special focus on gender differences.


METHODS
One-year survivors from a population-based stroke study (n = 377) were studied with regard to place of living, need for ADL assistance and who provided the help. Stroke severity, cognitive impairment, post-stroke depression as well as risk factors were evaluated.


RESULTS
Before the stroke 48 patients (13%) lived in special housing (service flats or nursing homes), and one year after the stroke, 50 of the survivors (20%) lived in such accommodations. Before the stroke, 80 (21%) of the patients needed help with their personal ADL, while 90 (36%) needed help after one year. The increased need was fulfilled by relatives. Female spouses more often helped their male counterparts, and they tended to accept a heavier burden. Age, living alone, stroke severity, cognitive impairment, pre-stroke ADL dependency and depression were predictors for special housing.


CONCLUSIONS
In a time when more and more stroke survivors are cared for at home, it is important to pay attention to the situation of the caregivers. Female caregivers seem to be in an especially exposed position by accepting a heavier burden.
Appelros
Peter
P
Department of Urology, Orebro University Hospital, Sweden. peter.appelros@orebroll.se
Nydevik
Ingegerd
I
Terént
Andreas
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation