STROKE REHABILITATION IN STOCKHOLM - BASIS FOR LATE INTERVENTION IN PATIENTS LIVING AT HOME

In order to identify the basis for late-therapy intervention in patien ts with stroke, we studied a population-based sample of 20 patients. T he requests were that they should be living at home 1-3 years after be ing hospitalized, and that they had declared themselves in need of reh abilitation services. The assessment of abilities and activities of th e patients was related to the model of human occupation developed by K ielhofner and co-workers. Most individuals reported a change in activi ty and interest patterns after stroke, and high motivation in current activities. The cognitive functions were within normal limits for all tested patients. However, the motor abilities and verbal performances were frequently affected and varied considerably. About 3/4 of the pat ients were not motivated to change their level of dependence in person al and instrumental ADL. Social and leisure activities outside the hom e were identified as the most promising goals for community-based reha bilitation programmes. Focusing on such activities, potential improvem ent in quality of life for this population could be achieved by indivi dually-planned rehabilitation programmes using non-professional collab orators and patient organizations.