An Educational Intervention for Stroke Rehabilitation Patients and Their Families: Healthy Living After Stroke

Abstract

The education of stroke patients and their families on prevention of recurrent stroke is a rehabilitation challenge. The principal objective of this article is to share a process for creating a stroke education program that improves patient and caregiver knowledge of secondary prevention, stroke signs and symptoms, modifiable risk factors, and maintenance of functional independence. During stroke recovery, patient education is a continuous journey. The education program needs to take into consideration the individual’s readiness to learn, unique learning styles, and timing of sessions. In our educational program, Healthy Living After Stroke, we used the stroke team to develop different venues of learning.

Keywords:

• function
• lifestyle
• patient education
• recurrent stroke
• risk factors
• secondary prevention