Social and family integration of hemiplegic elderly patients 1 year after stroke

We interviewed 120 elderly hemiplegic patients 1 year after their acute stroke to assess cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination, functional autonomy using the Barthel Index, mood disorders using the Hamilton Rating Depression Scale, and social integration using the Social Functioning Exam. Of the 76 patients admitted to this study, eight (12.1% of those testable) had significant cognitive impairment, 41 (53.9%) were functionally self-sufficient, 27 (35.5%) showed depressive symptoms, and 44 (57.9%) had problems in social and family integration. We suggest that a complete rehabilitation program aimed at producing a good quality of life for elderly hemiplegic patients should take into account all these aspects of human existence.