Rehabilitation Potential Among Nursing Home Stroke Residents

Rehabilitation potential among chronic stroke residents in Virginia nursing homes was examined Discriminant analysis was used to determine which rehabilitation potential characteristics discriminated between 46 stroke residents who improved in their physical activities of daily living (PADL) function and 34 residents who regressed. Improved residents were initially more PADL dependent, less depressed or anxious, had less paralysis/paresis, and were less demented than regressed residents. Initial PADL dependence was the strongest discriminator, followed by depression/anxiety, paralysis, and dementia. Nursing home rehabilitation staff can use these results to screen stroke candidates and classify residents for quality assurance evaluation.