January 2008 – December 2008
Riverside Rehabilitation Institute has an outstanding Stroke Recovery Program and we want you to know how our patients compare with stroke recovery patients nationwide.
Patients Admitted to RRI’s Stroke Recovery Program
Compare Well to the National Average
- RRI’s stroke recovery patients are admitted an average of 11 days after their stroke. This is 2 days earlier than the national average of 13 days.
- The average age of a patient admitted to RRI after a stroke is 68. The national average is 69.
- During their stay here, patients usually progress from needing total assistance to a moderate amount of help for tasks such as bathing, dressing, and walking/wheelchair use to needing a minimal amount of help for the same tasks. This compares well with the national average.
- 58% of patients admitted to RRI are discharged back home. Some may return to their own home, while others may live temporarily or permanently with family members while they continue their recovery. About 35% may need to go to a nursing home facility either temporarily or permanently.
There are some things that affect length of stay and discharge
Stroke patients are not all alike. Some patients have only a mild stroke while other patients have more severe strokes. A patient usually stays at RRI an average of 19 days depending on how bad the stroke is. The national average length of stay is 18 days.
Stroke patients are admitted with a goal of returning home. Many patients make progress and are able to return home with the help of their families and outpatient therapy or home health assistance.
Some things increase the possibility of not returning home. These things include:
- Patients whose stroke is severe
- Patients who live alone
- Patients who have no family to provide help
Outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or speech therapy is usually recommended after discharge however, in some instances a few patients may need home health services. Your doctor and rehab team will recommend to you the services that will best meet your needs. An informal Stroke Support Club (for stroke survivors, their families and interested individuals) meets at RRI on the first Wednesday of each month. Your Care Coordinator is available to help you with your discharge needs.
By working with patients and their families, we carry out our mission of
“Rebuilding the lives of the physically impaired”…every day.
