A look at how Stroke, or rather, its affects has created a bourgeoning industry.

Let us start with the proposition that all the physical effects of stroke are apparent in the first couple of days in the first hospital.

There is a Stroke Team which finds the neurological cause of the damage using existing hospital resources CT, MRI and pathology. The survival of the patients is in their hands.

They also record all the visible and physical (FAST) damage to the patient. From then on it is a watching brief of the patient, plus other critical Neurological works.

Now we move into the Therapy side of the proposition. More defects emerge-incontinence, speech and swallowing and eye focus. Now stroke patients in major hospitals are planned for a thirty day stay for cost reasons, so any therapy will be minimal. I know of a couple of hospitals who boast of their gyms, but they are probably only for Day Patients. Now the real growth in the therapy industry comes in the next step of the Recovery Chain; Residential Rehabilitation Hospitals. But that’s not all. There are a number of Private Rehabilitation Clinics specializing in neurological physiotherapy. The best ones are at the peak of the Stroke Recovery Business.

The stroke family have to sort their way through these options. Be careful; Visit and ask questions;

Let’s see your gym?

How many physios are here?

How much therapy per day?

Are all your Physios neurologically trained?

Will Grandad have the same Physio every day?

Now you don’t need to know the importance of all these questions. Just have the biggest family member read them from a prepared list on a clipboard and the rest watch the reactions. The clipboard is a powerful tool.

Now they may ask if any in the family has had experience in stroke recovery. One group may ask. This is to put you in your place – Stupid! You may detect this. The best answer is The Truth; we have read every article about stroke we could get our hands on. A good group will be impressed and may make a comment such as “We always make sure that we manage our client’s recovery to suit their needs. You are welcome to spend time in the gym with Grandad”!

Angus

P.S.

Information provide by a large private Rehab Hospital listed an extraordinary number of different specialists, everything except a Resident Sceptic!

I’ll nominate you for the job Ted. I know you make A GOOD RESIDENT!

Angus