Community reintegration post-stroke in New Zealand: understanding the experiences of stroke survivors in the lower South Island.

CONCLUSIONS: Stroke survivors in New Zealand hold many similar perceptions about optimal community reintegration with those living elsewhere. Key to successful community reintegration, irrespective of geography, culture and ethnicity, appears to be involvement in meaningful activities, and reduced reliance on others whilst maintaining or developing good social relationships. These fundamental components are then contextually nuanced by what is meaningful and important to the individual. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Optimal community reintegration post-stroke is arguably the key goal of rehabilitation, and thus should be enabled and measured. To optimise community reintegration post-stroke, rehabilitation should focus on enabling stroke survivors' social relationships, independent community mobility, and engagement in meaningful activities. Optimal community reintegration post-stroke is however contextual. Rehabilitation professionals must understand what each patient considers successful community reintegration to be for them and tailor their rehabilitation accordingly. PMID: 33135947 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research