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Caregiver Involvement in Post-Stroke Care

Summary & Participants

When someone close to you suffers from a stroke, the emotional impact can be tremendous. But as anyone caring for a loved one after a stroke knows, the psychological challenges are only half of the story. The responsibility of helping someone through recovery and rehabilitation can be demanding, and there's a lot to learn. Join our panel of experts as they discuss caregiver issues.

Medically Reviewed On: June 18, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID R. MARKS, MD:  Hi, and welcome to our webcast.  I'm Dr. David Marks.  When someone close to you suffers a stroke, the emotional impact can be tremendous, but as anyone caring for a loved one after a stroke knows, the psychological challenges are only half of the story.  The responsibility of helping someone through recovery and rehabilitation can be extremely demanding, and there's a lot to learn.  Who do you call in emergency situations?  How do you find the right kind of care for your loved one?  How do you pay for it all?  Those are just some of the questions.

Joining us today to talk about these and other questions are two experts.  First is Dr. Richard Zorowitz.  He's the director of stroke rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania.  Welcome.

RICHARD ZOROWITZ, MD:  Thanks.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD:  We also have Dr. David Alexander.  He's the medical director of the Daniel Freeman Rehabilitation Center, which is in Los Angeles, California.  Thanks for being here.

DAVID ALEXANDER, MD:  Thanks for inviting me.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD:  Family involvement is crucial, but when does it start?

DAVID ALEXANDER, MD:  Generally it starts right at the time of the stroke, and it's often a family member who discovers or helps the patient who's having a stroke get to the emergency room and get to the hospital.  It continues, really, essentially through the whole process, through the acute side of the hospitalization, as well as into the rehabilitation phase and, of course, for the rest of the patient's life.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD:  There comes a point when a person with a stroke goes home.  How do you know that the person there who is supposed to give care actually can be an effective caregiver?

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