Progress of severe hemiplegic stroke leading to return to home through family guidance and multidisciplinary collaboration

Abstract

Rehabilitation was provided to enable a patient with severe hemiplegic stroke to return home. The 49-year-old man was admitted to the rehabilitation ward to reacquire activities of daily living (ADL) to enable him to return home and socially reintegrate. Severe right hemiplegia was observed at admission, and he required significant assistance with ADL. Because he was relatively young and his residual functions were relatively well maintained, we predicted that his ADL would improve ADL and he would return home. Therefore, intensive rehabilitation and appropriate family guidance were provided. Furthermore, rehabilitation progress and prognosis were shared with the staff and care manager at the patient’s workplace to collaboratively facilitate his return home and social reintegration. Residual functions, transfer/movement functions, and ADL improved. Moreover, practical family guidance from the early stage of hospitalization enabled the family to develop the caregiving skills necessary to provide his home care, and the patient successfully returned home. These findings demonstrate the importance of family guidance and collaboration with workplace staff and care support specialists and an eye on rehabilitation from early hospitalization.