[Consequences of handicaps following a cerebrovascular accident for patient's partner]

What is the influence of stroke on experienced burden, coping and well-being of the patient's spouse? To explore this problem we interviewed 22 spouses, living with their husband or wife at home. Stroke had occurred over 12 months ago. There appeared to be different consequences for the spouse, depending upon the kind of handicap: The physical handicaps in stroke-patients were associated with an increase of household tasks and caregiving, and with diminished opportunities for the spouse to relax. Mental deterioration after stroke was slightly associated with a lower level of well-being in the spouse. Spouses of patients with severely impaired communication had fewer opportunities to relax, reported more deterioration of the marital relationship and showed slightly more depression than spouses of patients with slightly impaired communication.