[Rehabilitative treatment of cerebral apoplectic insults in advanced age and evaluating its effectiveness--results of a model project].

This report is of a two year study of stroke rehabilitation. Given certain conditions with specialized personnel and equipment the rehabilitation of elderly stroke patients can be managed co-operatively in hospitals and old age care centres. The rehabilitation of stroke affected is based on the support of multidisciplinary diagnosis and interdisciplinary teamwork between physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and social workers. Each patient requires an individual treatment program. In this study were 72 patients ranging in age from 42-87 years, average age 73 years. They had been judged as progressively degenerative and helpless following their stroke and consequently regarded as patients for a nursing home. Following special rehabilitation treatment 75% (54 patients) had improved enough that it was possible for them to return to their homes. Only 12.5% (9 patients) had to remain in a nursing home. 6.6% (4 patients) transferred to an old people's home. 6.9% (9 patients) were readmitted to hospital because of additional serious complications. The average duration of rehabilitative treatment was 72.3 days. The degree of hemiplegia and the patients ability to lead their own active daily independent life was reviewed before and after rehabilitation and used as control. 76.6% showed an improvement in their motor function. 61.1% returned to their own independent daily life as measured by ADL-Indices. (a. Barthel Index, b. ADL-Index-Katz-, c. Patient Classification for Long Term Care-Jones-, d. Crichton Royal Behavioural Rating Scale-Robinson-.).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)