Stroke Rehabilitation in San Diego
At Bella Vista Health Center, our Stroke Rehabilitation program helps survivors relearn skills that are lost following a stroke. Through a goal-oriented treatment plan that involves physical, occupational, and speech therapies, our cross-functional team works together to teach stroke patients new ways of performing tasks so they can regain independence and improve their quality of life.
Rehabilitation starts in the hospital as soon as possible following a stroke. If a loved one requires ongoing medical attention after being released from the hospital, he or she may enter our inpatient stroke rehabilitation program to continue receiving daily, individualized therapy sessions. Key areas of work at our stroke rehabilitation center include mobility training, range-of-motion therapy, and motor skills exercises. Regaining lost abilities in speaking, listening, writing, memory, and problem solving are also emphasized.
Inpatient stroke rehabilitation
The sooner a stroke patient begins rehabilitation, the more likely he or she is to regain lost abilities and skills. At Bella Vista Health Center, we coordinate with the doctors who treated your loved one to address all aspects of his or her care during recovery. Residents in our stroke rehabilitation program receive a minimum of an hour and a half to two hours of therapy per day, five to six days a week. Depending on the severity of your loved one’s stroke and any related complications, we will develop a specialized rehabilitation program focused on the areas that will help him or her become as independent as possible. In particular, our therapists are trained to help individuals:
Find new ways of cooking, eating, bathing, grooming, and dressing
Relearn to swallow
Communicate with spoken and written words
Find the right words when speaking
Regain balance and coordination
Learn exercises to strengthen muscles for walking
Learn and remember new information
Follow directions and pay attention
Regain motor skills
Manage health problems to prevent a future stroke
Improve thinking and movement skills for recreational activities
Stroke and dementia speech therapy
If a patient suffers cognitive issues following a stroke, he or she may need dementia speech therapy. While there is no cure for dementia, speech therapy can slow the progression of the disease and help your loved one remain as independent as possible. At Bella Vista Health Center, our speech therapists work with stroke and dementia patients to design a unique plan of care that strengthens the knowledge and memory processes, increases attention span, and improves problem solving skills. We can also educate a patient’s family on how to care for their loved one once he or she is released into the home environment.
Stroke and dementia occupational therapy
When a stroke affects a patient’s ability to perform daily functions, he or she may need dementia occupational therapy. The goal of dementia occupational therapy is to focus on strengthening the patient’s remaining abilities and make modifications to maintain independence for as long as possible. When designing a patient’s plan of care, our occupational therapists consider preferences and interests to create meaningful activities. We also help dementia patients with basic ADL (activities of daily living) retraining such as dressing, eating, and grooming so they can perform as much of their own self-care as they safely can.
Who participates in your stroke rehabilitation team?
Stroke rehabilitation is a team effort. When your loved one comes to Bella Vista Health for inpatient stroke rehab, they will be cared for and treated by a strong multidisciplinary team of specialists dedicated to their recovery and rehabilitation. Stroke affects each person differently, dependending on where in the brain the stroke happens. Every individual who comes through our doors receives a treatment plan tailored to their specific needs, so the exact members of the care team will be determined by your loved one’s condition. Typically, a stroke rehab team is made up of some combination of the following specialists, each of whom plays a vital role in helping patients regain functioning and maximum independence:
Neurologist - A neurologist is an expert on the central nervous system. They treat disorders involving the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system.
Neuropsychologist - A neuropsychologist assesses the impact of the stroke on cognition (which includes, thinking, memory, attention, and orientation) and behavior.
General practitioner - A general practitioner monitors the patient’s overall health, including medical conditions related to the stroke, oversees prescription management, and assesses the effects of medications. The GP also refers the patient to specialists and offers lifestyle recommendations.
Nurses - Nurses assess and monitor vital signs, promote and manage continence, and carry out a range of tasks to prevent complications, promote rehabilitation, and keep patients comfortable.
Physical therapists - Physical therapists use movement and physical interventions to help stroke survivors regain balance and restore strength, coordination, and functioning of affected limbs.
Occupational therapists - Occupational therapists work toward promoting independence in the tasks of daily living (including dressing and bathing) and maximizing quality of life through social activities and hobbies.
Speech and language therapists - Speech and language therapists assess and treat communication and swallowing disorders associated with stroke.
Social workers - Social workers offer support for patients and their families, helping them to manage financial, emotional, and social difficulties in the aftermath of the stroke. They also help to coordinate post-discharge care.
Dieticians - Dieticians assess nutrition needs and provide meal plans aimed at promoting recovery and optimizing patient health.
And of course, the patient is the most important member of the stroke recovery team. Their commitment to recovery is what holds the whole team together. The family plays an important role, too. Teamwork is the key to stroke rehabilitation and restoring patient independence after a stroke.
How long does stroke rehabilitation last?
Every stroke patient is different, and every stroke rehabilitation story differs as well. Stroke rehab can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people make a quick and full recovery, while others experience long-term disabilities resulting from stroke. Stroke rehabilitation aims to restore patients to maximum functioning as close to their pre-stroke condition as possible, or to adapt to the changes caused by the stroke. At Bella Vista Health Center, the patient’s skilled nursing stroke rehabilitation team will develop a treatment plan designed to help them regain maximum independence as quickly as possible. Nursing home stroke rehabilitation can last for several months, and rehab will often continue once the patient has returned home.
What factors affect the outcome of stroke rehabilitation?
One of the most important factors that affects the outcome of stroke rehabilitation is how quickly treatment begins after the stroke occurs. The sooner the stroke is treated, the higher the chances of a quick and complete recovery. Other factors that affect the outcome of stroke rehab include:
Early rehabilitation - Immediately after the stroke has been treated, the brain responds by trying to fix any damage. When rehabilitation begins immediately, it maximizes the impact and momentum of the heightened brain activity.
The severity of the damage - Different types of strokes tend to cause more damage than others. Typically, the more damage that’s done, the longer the recovery and rehabilitation. Brain stem strokes, bilateral strokes, hemorrhagic strokes, and large strokes usually result in the most damage.
The patient’s mental and emotional health - Many stroke patients suffer from depression, which can impact their motivation to participate in their recovery. Mental health support is an important part of stroke rehabilitation.
A strong support network - Friends and family, church community, and other support networks play an important role in the outcome of stroke rehabilitation. Visits from loved ones, community events, and other social activities can go a long way toward promoting positive outcomes.
A strong stroke rehabilitation team - A stroke care team consisting of highly skilled and trained specialists who are committed to the best possible outcomes will have a positive impact on patient recovery and rehabilitation.
The brain is a mysterious organ that often defies predictions. If your loved one has suffered from a stroke, even a massive one, recovery could be miraculous and quick or could take long months. What we do know for sure is that patients who participate in stroke rehabilitation programs have the highest chances of achieving the best outcomes.
For more information on Bella Vista Health Center’s stroke rehabilitation program, please contact us at (619) 644-1000.
