Living and Caring After a Stroke

Abstract

Background: Stroke may cause permanent changes in the patient and in the caregiver and, consequently, in their quality of life. Objectives: To assess the perception of quality of life of caregivers and stroke patients hospitalized in the Stroke Unit of the Hospital Center of Baixo Vouga. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study, with a non-probability convenience sample. Results: The socio-demographic and clinical variables influence the quality of life. Two months after the stroke, both the patients and the caregivers have worse quality of life. Conclusion: When comparing patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life at the time of hospitalization and at the 2-month follow--up (after discharge), we concluded that both have worse quality of life 2-months after the stroke. We also concluded that the caregivers have better quality of life than the patients, although this difference was not statistically significant.