Despite significant investment starting over a decade ago (2000) in evidence based reviews, best practice guidelines, standards of care, and centralized data collection—critical outcomes for stroke patients have not improved. Only about 6% of the stroke budgets were spent on rehab and community care.
- There is strong evidence that rehabilitation needs to be intensive and functional, yet many rehabilitation patients continue to receive minimal practice. In fact many stroke survivors in rehabilitation spend the majority of their time alone and resting.
- Pressure to move people through the rehabilitation system has resulted rehabilitation centres accepting patients with much milder impairments. This is measured by rising admission FIMtm scores. Severe stroke patients often cannot access the stroke rehabilitation system.
- Maintenance care is declining or nonexistent. Families and stroke survivors are not supported once after discharge from hospital.
