Stroke Rehabilitation
Recovering from a stroke is one of the greatest challenges a person will ever face. At On With Life, we deliver a comprehensive program of medical, nursing and therapy care that successfully addresses the individual needs of each person served. Our trained staff and state-of-the-art facility will help restore physical and cognitive function. But most importantly — hope.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or a broken blood vessel. Brain cells in the immediate area then die, often causing physical and emotional disabilities, including speech problems, memory loss and paralysis.
There are two types of strokes that can occur. An ischemic stroke is when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain and a hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeding occurs.
Signs of stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding others; sudden changes in vision or trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Overcoming Is Always Underway
Stroke can affect many aspects of life, including movement, communications, reasoning, balance, swallowing, speech and even breathing. Depending on the severity of the stroke, different areas of the brain can be affected. At On With Life, we understand that because each individual is different in how the stroke has affected them, that each rehabilitation plan needs to be different. The focus of the program is to identify each participant’s personal goals and needs and prioritize interventions in a manner designed to support improved outcomes and community involvement.
On With Life's Specialized Stroke "ENGAGE" Program
The Stroke ENGAGE Program provides medical and rehabilitation care with staff trained to identify and respond to the special needs of individuals recovering from a stroke. ENGAGE is an acronym designed to specify specific program participation requirements:
E - Energy to meet program demands
N - Neurologically stable
G - Goals specific to rehabilitation
A - Access to family and community support
G - Good control of medical conditions to prevent secondary stroke
E - Enthusiasm for the rehab process
This program addresses stroke related impairments. Additionally, there is an emphasis on prevention of secondary stroke by assisting persons served and family members to understand the risks of secondary stroke and the behaviors/activities that may increase such risk. The focus of the program is to identify each participant's personal goals and needs. Prioritizing interventions in a manner designed to avoid overwhelming or overstimulation of the person served. Approximately 60% of all On With Life admissions have a primary diagnosis of stroke. Average length of stay for this population is 72 days for traditional brain injury rehabilitation program and 91 days for the Disorders of Consciousness program.