Post-Stroke/Cerebrovascular Disease

Condition: Post-Stroke/Cerebrovascular Disease

Brief Overview: Cerebrovascular disease refers to conditions affecting blood vessels that supply the brain. Stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures.

The major types include:

Ischemic stroke: Caused by blockage of an artery supplying the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke: Caused by bleeding into or around the brain.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA): Temporary interruption of blood flow that causes stroke-like neurological symptoms without permanent infarction. A TIA is an important warning sign for future stroke.

Approximately 87% of strokes are ischemic.

After a stroke, patients may have persistent physical, cognitive, communication, swallowing, sensory, visual, emotional, or behavioral changes. Recovery varies considerably according to the location and severity of the stroke, other medical conditions, and access to rehabilitation.

Post-stroke care focuses on:

Preventing another stroke.
Managing cardiovascular risk factors.
Maximizing recovery and independence.
Treating residual neurological symptoms.
Preventing falls, aspiration, contractures, skin injury, and other complications.
Supporting caregivers.

The 2026 AHA/ASA Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Guideline emphasizes ongoing multidisciplinary rehabilitation, coordinated care, and periodic reassessment even after formal rehabilitation has ended because new problems or functional decline may emerge later.

Prevalence: According to Open Evidence, “Stroke sequelae are highly prevalent and multidomain, affecting the majority of survivors. In one analysis, roughly 40% of stroke survivors experience sequelae within one month to five years, and at 5 years after stroke more than 2 in 3 ischemic stroke patients (70.6%) and more than 3 in 4 intracerebral hemorrhage patients (79%) are dead or functionally dependent (mRS ≥3).”

Etiology: According to Open Evidence, “Cerebrovascular disease is etiologically divided into ischemic stroke (~87% of strokes) and hemorrhagic stroke (~13%), each with distinct underlying mechanisms. Ischemic stroke results from arterial occlusion via embolism, thrombosis, or hypoperfusion, whereas hemorrhagic stroke results from rupture of cerebral vessels—most often due to chronic hypertension or cerebral amyloid angiopathy.”

Ischemic Stroke

An ischemic stroke occurs when an artery supplying the brain becomes blocked.

Possible causes include:

Atherosclerosis.
Carotid artery disease.
Small-vessel disease.
Atrial fibrillation or another cardiac source of embolism.
Intracranial atherosclerosis.
Arterial dissection.
Hypercoagulable conditions.
Other vascular disorders.

In some patients, no definite cause is identified; this may be described as a cryptogenic stroke.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and bleeding occurs within or around the brain.

Possible contributing factors include:

Chronic hypertension.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
Aneurysm.
Arteriovenous malformation.
Anticoagulant-related bleeding.
Other vascular abnormalities.

Care Coordinator Note: Secondary-prevention treatment differs substantially according to whether the patient's stroke was ischemic or hemorrhagic and according to the identified cause. Do not assume that every stroke survivor should receive aspirin, anticoagulation, or another specific medication.

Risk Factors: Major risk factors for stroke and recurrent stroke include:

Previous stroke or TIA.
Hypertension.
Atrial fibrillation.
Diabetes mellitus.
Dyslipidemia.
Carotid or other atherosclerotic disease.
Tobacco use.
Physical inactivity.
Obesity.
Poor diet.
Excessive alcohol intake.
Obstructive sleep apnea.
Chronic kidney disease.
Other cardiovascular disease.
Increasing age.

Of the modifiable risk factors, blood-pressure control is particularly important for secondary stroke prevention. The AHA/ASA secondary-prevention guideline recommends an office blood-pressure goal of less than 130/80 mm Hg for most patients after stroke or TIA, although treatment must be individualized.

Commonly Associated Conditions:

Hypertension.
Atrial fibrillation.
Coronary artery disease.
Carotid artery disease.
Peripheral artery disease.
Diabetes mellitus.
Dyslipidemia.
Chronic kidney disease.
Obstructive sleep apnea.
Heart failure.
Post-stroke depression.
Cognitive impairment.
Aphasia.
Dysphagia.
Spasticity.
Shoulder pain.
Post-stroke seizures.
Urinary or bowel dysfunction.
Chronic fatigue.
Falls and mobility impairment.

Common Medications: Medication therapy depends on the type and cause of the stroke.

Antiplatelet Medications

For many patients with a noncardioembolic ischemic stroke or TIA, antiplatelet therapy is used to reduce the risk of another stroke.

Examples include:

Aspirin.
Clopidogrel (Plavix).
Aspirin/extended-release dipyridamole (Aggrenox).

Antiplatelet therapy is generally preferred over anticoagulation for secondary prevention after noncardioembolic ischemic stroke.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy

Aspirin plus clopidogrel may be prescribed short-term for selected patients, such as certain patients after minor ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA.

Long-term dual antiplatelet therapy is not routinely recommended for most stroke survivors because bleeding risk increases.

Anticoagulants

Patients whose ischemic stroke was associated with atrial fibrillation or another appropriate cardioembolic source may be prescribed anticoagulation.

Examples include:

Apixaban (Eliquis).
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
Dabigatran (Pradaxa).
Edoxaban (Savaysa).
Warfarin (Coumadin).

For patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and previous stroke or TIA, oral anticoagulation is generally recommended unless contraindicated.

Important: Anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy are not routinely combined for secondary stroke prevention except under specific circumstances directed by the healthcare provider.

Statins and Other Lipid-Lowering Medications

Examples include:

Atorvastatin.
Rosuvastatin.
Other statins.
Ezetimibe.
PCSK9-directed therapies or other lipid-lowering medications in selected patients.

High-intensity lipid-lowering therapy is commonly used after ischemic stroke associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guideline recommends an LDL-C goal below 55 mg/dL for most patients at very high risk of recurrent ASCVD events and at least below 70 mg/dL for ASCVD patients who do not meet very-high-risk criteria.

Antihypertensive Medications

Common classes include:

ACE inhibitors.
ARBs.
Thiazide or thiazide-like diuretics.
Calcium-channel blockers.
Beta-blockers when indicated for another cardiovascular condition.

There is no single preferred blood-pressure medication for every stroke survivor. Selection depends on blood pressure, kidney function, diabetes, heart disease, orthostatic symptoms, and other comorbidities.

Symptom-Directed Medications

Depending on residual symptoms, patients may also receive treatment for:

Spasticity.
Neuropathic or post-stroke pain.
Depression or anxiety.
Seizures.
Sleep disorders.
Pseudobulbar affect.

Refer to the corresponding resource when applicable.

⚠️ Key Points for Care Coordinators & Patients

Do not advise patients to start, stop, increase, decrease, or change the timing of antiplatelet, anticoagulant, blood-pressure, cholesterol, or other medications.
Ask whether medications are being taken exactly as prescribed.
Determine whether the patient knows why they take their antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication.
Ask whether medications are affordable and consistently available.
Ask about dizziness, low blood pressure, falls, muscle symptoms, or other medication concerns.
For warfarin, ask whether INR monitoring is current.
Ask about abnormal bruising or bleeding in patients taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication.
Never advise a patient to stop a blood thinner because of bruising or another concern without provider direction unless emergency management requires otherwise.
Confirm medication changes made during recent hospitalizations or specialist visits.
Patients with cognitive impairment may need caregiver assistance with medication management.

⚠️ Bleeding Precautions

Patients taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications should report concerning bleeding to their healthcare provider.

Follow urgent/emergency escalation policies for:

Vomiting blood.
Coughing up significant blood.
Black or tarry stools with concerning symptoms.
Significant rectal bleeding.
Uncontrolled bleeding.
Significant blood in the urine.
New severe headache, confusion, weakness, or neurological change while anticoagulated.
A significant fall or head injury while taking anticoagulation.

Do not independently discontinue anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.

Common Labs, Imaging, and Tests: The original stroke evaluation and ongoing follow-up may include:

Brain Imaging

Noncontrast CT brain.
MRI brain.

These help determine:

Whether a stroke occurred.
Stroke location.
Ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke.
Extent of injury.
Whether another neurological process is present.

Vascular Imaging

Examples include:

CT angiography.
MR angiography.
Carotid ultrasound.
Cerebral angiography in selected patients.

These may identify:

Carotid stenosis.
Intracranial stenosis.
Aneurysm.
Other vascular abnormalities.

Cardiac Evaluation

May include:

ECG.
Telemetry.
Echocardiogram.
Ambulatory rhythm monitoring.
Implantable cardiac monitor in selected patients.

These tests may identify atrial fibrillation or another potential cardiac source of embolic stroke.

Common Laboratory Monitoring

May include:

CBC.
CMP/renal function.
Fasting lipid panel.
Hemoglobin A1c or glucose testing.
Liver-function testing when indicated.
INR for patients taking warfarin.
Other testing based on the cause of stroke and medications.

Swallowing Evaluation

Patients with dysphagia may require evaluation by speech-language pathology and sometimes instrumental testing such as:

Modified barium swallow study.
Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing.

Dysphagia may cause aspiration, malnutrition, dehydration, and pneumonia.

Rehabilitation Assessments

Evaluation may include:

Physical therapy.
Occupational therapy.
Speech-language pathology.
Cognitive assessment.
Vision assessment.
Driving evaluation.
Home-safety assessment.

The 2026 AHA/ASA guideline recommends periodic reassessment after rehabilitation discharge to identify new problems, functional decline, or need for additional rehabilitation.

Common Symptoms: Symptoms vary according to which part of the brain was affected.

Motor Symptoms

Weakness or paralysis on one side.
Difficulty walking.
Foot drop.
Poor balance.
Impaired coordination.
Reduced hand function.
Difficulty transferring.
Muscle stiffness or spasticity.
Muscle spasms.

Sensory Symptoms

Numbness.
Tingling.
Altered sensation.
Reduced awareness of part of the body.
Central post-stroke pain.
Abnormal sensitivity to touch or temperature.

Speech and Language Changes

Dysarthria

Speech may sound:

Slurred.
Slow.
Soft.
Difficult to understand.

Aphasia

Aphasia may cause difficulty:

Finding words.
Speaking.
Understanding spoken language.
Reading.
Writing.

Aphasia does not mean that the patient has lost intelligence.

Cognitive Symptoms

Memory problems.
Difficulty concentrating.
Slowed thinking.
Difficulty planning.
Impaired judgment.
Difficulty problem-solving.
Impulsivity.
Reduced awareness of deficits.

Neglect and Visual Problems

Possible symptoms include:

Visual-field loss.
Double vision.
Difficulty judging distance.
Ignoring one side of the body or environment.
Difficulty recognizing objects or spatial relationships.

Right-brain strokes may particularly cause left-sided neglect and increased impulsivity.

Swallowing Symptoms

Coughing during or after meals.
Choking.
Wet or gurgly voice after swallowing.
Food remaining in the mouth.
Drooling.
Difficulty swallowing pills.
Prolonged meals.
Weight loss.
Recurrent pneumonia.

Some patients experience silent aspiration, meaning food or liquid enters the airway without triggering an obvious cough.

Emotional and Behavioral Symptoms

Depression.
Anxiety.
Emotional lability.
Irritability.
Anger.
Apathy.
Personality change.
Impulsivity.
Pseudobulbar affect.

Post-stroke depression affects approximately 30% of stroke survivors and is treatable.

Fatigue

Post-stroke fatigue may persist for months or years and can affect both physical and mental activity.

Persistent fatigue should still prompt evaluation for other contributors such as:

Depression.
Sleep apnea.
Anemia.
Medication effects.
Poor sleep.
Other medical illness.

Common Treatments:

Secondary stroke prevention: Secondary prevention may include:
- Antiplatelet therapy when appropriate.
- Anticoagulation when appropriate.
- Blood-pressure control.
- Lipid-lowering therapy.
- Diabetes management.
- Tobacco cessation.
- Physical activity.
- Nutrition modification.
- Treatment of sleep apnea.
- Management of atrial fibrillation.
- Treatment of carotid or other vascular disease when appropriate.
Rehabilitation:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech-language therapy
- Neuropsychology
Spasticity treatment if spasticity develops
Post-stroke seizure treatment if post-stroke seizures develop

Physical Findings:

Facial weakness.
Unilateral arm or leg weakness.
Hemiplegia.
Sensory loss.
Hyperreflexia.
Spasticity.
Foot drop.
Abnormal gait.
Poor balance.
Dysarthria.
Aphasia.
Visual-field deficit.
Neglect.
Impaired coordination.
Cognitive impairment.

Potential Complications and Contraindications:

Recurrent stroke or TIA.
Falls and fractures.
Dysphagia.
Aspiration pneumonia.
Malnutrition.
Dehydration.
Seizures.
Depression.
Cognitive impairment.
Spasticity.
Contractures.
Shoulder pain or subluxation.
Pressure injuries.
DVT related to immobility.
Urinary dysfunction or infection.
Constipation.
Chronic pain.
Fatigue.
Loss of independence.
Medication-management difficulty.
Caregiver burnout.

General Health and Lifestyle Guidance:

Secondary Prevention

Encourage patients to:

Take medications exactly as prescribed.
Keep neurology, primary-care, cardiology, and other follow-up appointments.
Monitor blood pressure according to the provider's recommendations.
Maintain diabetes management when applicable.
Complete recommended lipid testing.
Avoid tobacco.
Participate in safe physical activity according to healthcare-provider or therapy recommendations.
Follow an appropriate heart-healthy dietary pattern.
Limit excess sodium.
Maintain an appropriate weight when possible.
Follow treatment for sleep apnea when prescribed.
Limit alcohol according to healthcare-provider recommendations.
Maintain medication adherence.

AHA/ASA secondary-prevention guidance supports physical activity and dietary patterns such as a Mediterranean-style diet as part of recurrent-stroke prevention.

Post-Stroke Safety

Use prescribed walker, cane, brace, or wheelchair.
Remove loose rugs and clutter.
Maintain adequate lighting.
Use grab bars or other adaptive equipment when recommended.
Follow swallowing precautions exactly as directed.
Do not independently change food or liquid consistency.
Reposition regularly when mobility is limited.
Monitor skin for pressure injury.
Maintain prescribed range-of-motion activities.
Discuss driving safety with the healthcare provider.
Supervise medications when cognition or communication impairment creates safety concerns.

Suggested Questions to Ask Patients:

Stroke History

When did you have your stroke?
Do you know whether it was ischemic or hemorrhagic?
Have you had more than one stroke or a TIA?
What symptoms or deficits have remained since your stroke?
Which neurologist or stroke specialist currently follows you?

New Neurological Symptoms

Have you noticed any new weakness or numbness?
Is any previous weakness noticeably worse?
Has your face looked different or drooped?
Has your speech changed?
Have you had any new difficulty understanding words?
Any new vision changes?
Any new dizziness or loss of balance?
Any sudden severe headache?
Have you had any episodes that felt similar to your previous stroke?

Mobility and Falls

Are you walking about the same as you were at our last call?
Are transfers becoming harder?
Have you fallen or nearly fallen?
Are you using your prescribed cane, walker, brace, or wheelchair?
Do you feel safe moving around your home?

Swallowing and Nutrition

Are you coughing or choking while eating or drinking?
Has your voice sounded wet or gurgly after meals?
Are meals taking longer?
Are you having trouble swallowing pills?
Have you lost weight?
Are you following a modified diet or thickened-liquid plan?
When did you last see speech therapy?

Cognition and Communication

Have you or your family noticed changes in memory or thinking?
Are medications or appointments becoming harder to manage?
Is it more difficult to communicate?
Has your ability to read, write, or understand speech changed?
Does your caregiver feel your cognition is stable?

Mood and Behavior

How has your mood been?
Have you felt depressed or hopeless?
Have you lost interest in activities?
Have you had thoughts of hurting yourself?
Has your family noticed increased irritability, impulsivity, or personality changes?
Are you having uncontrollable episodes of laughing or crying?

Spasticity and Pain

Has muscle stiffness increased?
Are you having painful spasms?
Has your hand become more tightly clenched?
Are you having new shoulder pain?
Has stiffness started interfering with hygiene, dressing, or walking?

Seizures

Have you had any seizure or episode of unexplained staring or unresponsiveness?
Are you taking antiseizure medication?
Have you missed any doses?
Has the seizure pattern changed?

Secondary Prevention

Are you checking your blood pressure?
What are your usual readings?
Are you taking your blood thinner or antiplatelet medication as prescribed?
Have you missed any doses?
Are you taking cholesterol medication?
Do you have atrial fibrillation?
Are you receiving treatment for sleep apnea?
Are you smoking or using tobacco?

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Safety

Have you noticed unusual or increasing bruising?
Any significant bleeding?
Any blood in your stool or urine?
Have you fallen or hit your head?
If taking warfarin, are your INR checks current?

Caregiver Support

Has the amount of assistance needed increased?
Does the caregiver feel safe assisting with transfers?
Is the patient safe when alone?
Is additional therapy, home assistance, respite, or equipment needed?

Potential Questions to Ask if Patient Reports a New or Changed Symptom

When did this start?
What time was the patient last known to be at their normal neurological baseline?
Was the onset sudden or gradual?
Is the symptom completely new or is an old stroke symptom suddenly worse?
Is one side of the body affected?
Any facial drooping?
Any arm or leg weakness?
Any numbness?
Any speech difficulty?
Any trouble understanding speech?
Any new vision change?
Any sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or inability to walk?
Any new severe headache?
Any confusion?
Any swallowing difficulty?
Any seizure?
Has the symptom improved or gone away?
Have emergency services already been contacted?

Important: If symptoms are suggestive of a new stroke/TIA, do not continue routine telephone assessment before initiating the organization's emergency stroke protocol.

🚨 Stroke Warning Signs — B.E. F.A.S.T.

Care coordinators should recognize:

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
E – Eyes: Sudden visual loss, blurred vision, or double vision.
F – Face: Sudden facial droop or numbness.
A – Arm: Sudden arm weakness or numbness.
S – Speech: Sudden slurred speech, inability to speak, or difficulty understanding.
T – Time: Call 911 immediately.

Other warning signs include:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side.
Sudden confusion.
Sudden severe headache without a known cause.

Critical Rule for Previous Stroke Patients

A patient may already have residual:

Weakness.
Facial asymmetry.
Aphasia.
Dysarthria.
Balance problems.

A sudden new symptom or sudden worsening of a previous stroke deficit can represent another stroke.

Do not assume it is simply the old stroke.

🚨 Telephone Escalation Guidance

Possible Stroke or TIA — Call 911

Follow emergency stroke protocol for any sudden:

New or worsening unilateral weakness.
Facial droop.
Numbness.
Speech or language change.
Vision change.
Severe balance loss or inability to walk.
Severe coordination problem.
Severe unexplained headache.
Other new focal neurological deficit.

Call 911 even if symptoms improve or completely resolve. A transient episode may represent a TIA and still requires emergency evaluation.

Record the time symptoms were first noticed or the last known normal time if available.

Do not advise the patient to drive to the hospital. EMS should be activated.

Other Emergency Situations

Follow organizational emergency protocol for:

Severe choking or inability to protect the airway.
Severe difficulty breathing.
New seizure
Prolonged seizure or repeated seizures without appropriate recovery.
Loss of consciousness.
Serious fall with significant injury or head trauma.
Major uncontrolled bleeding.
Active suicidal intent or immediate risk of harm to self or others.

⚠️ Standard Neurology Symptom-Change Guidance

For nonemergency new neurologic symptoms or gradual change/worsening of an established post-stroke symptom, advise the patient or caregiver to contact the patient's neurologist/stroke specialist to report the change.

Examples include gradual or persistent:

Increased weakness.
Increased spasticity.
New or worsening pain.
Changes in walking.
Falls.
Speech or swallowing changes.
Cognitive changes.
Functional decline.

Care coordinators should not independently determine that a new or worsening neurological symptom is simply an expected consequence of the previous stroke.

If symptoms meet criteria for emergency evaluation, do not wait for the neurologist to respond. Follow emergency escalation protocol.

Prompt Clinical/Neurology Follow-Up

Advise the patient to report nonemergent concerns such as:

Gradual decline in mobility.
Increasing falls.
Worsening spasticity.
Increasing contracture.
Persistent shoulder pain.
Gradual worsening of swallowing.
Unintentional weight loss.
Increased difficulty completing ADLs.
New or worsening depression.
Cognitive decline.
Medication adverse effects.
Recurrent seizures or change in known seizure pattern according to organizational protocols.
Current assistive equipment no longer meeting the patient's needs.

The 2026 rehabilitation guideline specifically recommends periodic reassessment after discharge from rehabilitation to identify decline or new issues that may benefit from renewed rehabilitation.

Suggested Talking Points:

Explaining post-stroke symptoms

"A stroke can leave lasting changes in strength, balance, speech, swallowing, vision, thinking, or mood. We want to track those symptoms over time and make sure you're getting the therapy and support you need."

Discussing recurrent stroke

"Having had a stroke means your risk of another stroke is higher. That's why medications, blood-pressure control, cholesterol treatment, and other prevention measures are so important."

Discussing new symptoms

"Even though you already have stroke-related symptoms, a sudden change or worsening could be another stroke. Sudden weakness, facial drooping, speech changes, vision changes, or severe balance problems mean calling 911 rather than waiting to hear back from your neurologist."

Discussing symptoms that resolve

"Stroke symptoms that go away can still represent a TIA. Don't wait to see whether they come back—those symptoms still need emergency evaluation."

Discussing swallowing

"Swallowing problems after stroke can sometimes allow food or liquid into the lungs without a strong cough. Let your healthcare team know if you're choking, coughing with meals, developing a wet-sounding voice, losing weight, or having repeated chest infections."

Discussing rehabilitation

"Recovery doesn't necessarily end when formal rehab ends. If you're losing function or struggling with something that used to be easier, your healthcare team can decide whether another therapy evaluation would help."

Discussing aphasia

"Aphasia affects language, not intelligence. Giving extra time, asking one question at a time, and using writing or pictures can make communication easier."

Discussing prevention

"One of the most important parts of post-stroke care is preventing another stroke. Take your blood-pressure, cholesterol, blood-thinning, and other medications exactly as prescribed."

Discussing caregivers

"Changes in mobility, thinking, or communication can gradually increase how much help someone needs. We want to adjust equipment and support before either the patient or caregiver gets hurt."

Suggested SMART Goal Examples

1. Medication Adherence
"I will take my stroke-prevention medications exactly as prescribed every day for the next 30 days."

2. Blood-Pressure Monitoring
When recommended by the provider:
"I will check and record my blood pressure ___ days per week for the next 4 weeks and bring the readings to my healthcare appointment."

3. Neurology Follow-Up
"I will schedule and attend my recommended neurology/stroke follow-up appointment within the next ___ days."

4. Physical Therapy
"I will complete the exercises recommended by my physical therapist ___ days per week for the next 4 weeks."

5. Fall Prevention
"I will remove loose rugs and clutter from my main walking areas within the next 7 days."

6. Assistive Device Use
"I will use my prescribed walker/cane for the activities recommended by my therapy team for the next 30 days."

7. Swallowing Safety
"I will follow the swallowing strategies and diet consistency recommended by my speech-language pathologist at every meal for the next 2 weeks."

8. Home Exercise
"Following my healthcare team's recommendations, I will complete ___ minutes of safe physical activity ___ days per week for the next 4 weeks."

9. Tobacco Cessation
"I will contact my healthcare provider or smoking-cessation resource within the next 7 days to develop a plan to stop tobacco use."

10. Medication Organization
"My caregiver and I will review my medication organizer daily for the next 30 days to prevent missed or duplicate doses."

11. Weight/Nutrition Monitoring
For a patient with swallowing or nutrition concerns:
"I or my caregiver will record my weight once weekly for the next 4 weeks and report ongoing weight loss."

12. Stroke Education
"I and my caregiver will review the B.E. F.A.S.T. stroke warning signs this week so we know when to call 911."

13. Sleep Apnea Treatment
For a patient prescribed PAP therapy:
"I will use my prescribed PAP device each night for the next 30 days and report barriers to my healthcare team."

14. Caregiver Support
"My caregiver and I will identify at least one additional home-care, respite, therapy, or community resource within the next 30 days."

15. Rehabilitation Reassessment
For a patient with declining function:
"I will discuss whether I need a new PT, OT, or speech-therapy evaluation with my neurologist or primary-care provider within the next ___ days."

Sources:

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This resource is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information presented is general in nature and may not apply to every individual or health situation.

Individuals should consult their physician or other qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations related to their specific health conditions and should not begin any new exercise program or change their diet or medications without consulting their healthcare professional.

Call 911 if you are experiencing a medical emergency.