[Status of stroke patients following rehabilitation--initial results of a long-term retrospective study]

Between Oct. 1984 and March 1985, a total of 120 former patients of our clinic were visited at home or in residential facilities for care of the elderly, and interviewed by a physician and a social scientist regarding their current health and psychosocial situation. All patients had had a primary diagnosis of stroke, and had been discharged from hospital an average 16 months ago. The sample comprised 44 men (36.7%) and 76 women (63.3%), the average age was 74.8 years, average length of hospitalization 48.6 days. The study results presented show that (even in cases where the treatment in a rehabilitation clinic is viewed in positive terms) the rehabilitation process as a whole cannot be regarded as completed; instead, continuation of aftercare by provision of differentiated assistance and support to the ex-patients, their relatives, and the farther social environment must be considered; this includes assistance with home care; support of family self-help efforts; effective use of available social services; continued provision of physical and, above all, speech therapy; and, finally, increased involvement and linkages of self-help activities (self-help groups) with other providers of aftercare.