Post-stroke rehab can benefit the very elderly

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Although the success rate of rehabilitation after Stroke in patients 85 years or older is not as high as that in younger patients, such measures still appear to be worthwhile, according to Israeli researchers.

In the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Drs. Devora Lieberman and David Lieberman of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, note that most research in the area of Stroke rehabilitation has centered on subjects no older than 80 years of age.

The researchers conducted a forward-looking study of patients hospitalized for rehabilitation after stroke. Of these, 45 were 85 years or older and 220 were between the ages of 75 and 84 years.

The team used a standard functional test called the FIM to measure the patients’ progress. Total independence merits a FIM score of 126, and a score of 80 reflects the need for assistance from only one caregiver.

Successful rehabilitation was defined as a FIM higher than 80 at the time of discharge. In total, 18 (40 percent) of the older group of patients met this criterion compared with 115 (52 percent) of the younger group.

No significant differences were seen between groups in other measures of rehabilitation. However, older subjects invariably scored lower.

The researchers conclude that although the success rate of stroke rehabilitation is lower in the oldest of patients, “the results still seem to justify the effort invested.”

SOURCE: Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, January/February 2005.

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