Caregiver Factors in Stroke: Are They the Missing Piece of the Puzzle?

Stroke is a major global health problem and a leading cause of long-term disability. As health care professionals working with these patients, we work closely with their caregivers because we recognize the crucial role they play in our patients' recovery. Increasingly, the effect of patient factors on caregiver outcomes is being studied. However, the effect of the reverse relationship of caregiver factors on patient outcomes has received much less attention, although there is evidence that social and family support can positively (and sometimes negatively) affect patient outcomes. A better understanding of this relationship may have implications for rehabilitation research, professional practice, and policy directions in terms of resource allocation.