Care in the chronic phase: Care at home

Abstract

In the chronic phase, the stroke patient reaches the limits of his recovery, he becomes aware of his permanent limitations and has to learn to live with the consequences of stroke. In practice, this often means a shift from trying to recover from a disease (disease management) to learning how to deal with the consequences of a disease (disability management). The patient may experience health issues in ADL, in the field of psychological, emotional and cognitive functioning and in the field of social functioning and relationships. However, the consequences will vary for each patient, depending on the severity of the condition, the motivation of the patient, the support the patient receives from relatives, the help and care that are available and the interior of the home he is living in. Therefore, in the chronic phase, acceptance, secondary prevention, preventing aggravation of disabilities and finding a new balance are priorities. The healthcare professionals discuss together with the patient how he can function best at home, they support patients with acceptance of disabilities and finding a new balance. In many cases, the patient still needs multidisciplinary treatment in the chronic phase to maintain his physical integrity and to prevent recurrence and secondary complications of stroke.