Ambulation and self-care are goals of rehabilitation after stroke

Successful rehabilitation of the elderly hemiplegic patient means achievement of ambulation of self-care. The patient's potential for reaching this goal can be determined shortly after the stroke by the stand-up test. Delay of an adequate rehabilitation program, often caused by administrative obstacles to proper care, decreases the potential. Rehabilitation of the elderly hemiplegic also is often hampered by impairment of communication. However, with correction of organic abnormalities causing mental disturbance and with use of simple techniques to facilitate communication, it is possible to achieve ambulation even in patients with marginal ability to communicate.