Stroke Survivors’ Experiences of Early Person- Centered Rehabilitation at Home – Living in Sparsely Populated Areas

Abstract

negative psychosocial effects because of the body being unreliable and the patient’s self-identity, role and social relations may also be negatively affected [14,15]. A person with stroke may have an altered life instead of going back to life as it was before the stroke. The altered life may have an impact on the person’s capacity to learn and adapt to a change in the environment [16]. Overall, a person-centred rehabilitation needs to include biopsychosocial and spiritual aspects, preferences, experience’s and the right to make decisions about one´s treatment [17,18]. It is about respecting, differences and deviation and having an inclusive attitude to the ways people view their own embodiment [19]. Living in a sparsely populated area, includes specific challenges such as long distances to receive rehabilitation. These conditions place high demands on the person, family members and their social network. Rehabilitation at home enables adaptation of the environment and provides opportunities for the patient to practice skills that are important for them. There are no studies regarding stroke patient’s own perspective, of undergoing home-based rehabilitation in sparsely populated areas from true person-centred perspective [20]. Such knowledge may support health care providers to develop individual interventions at home and support transition from rehabilitation units to the home in this specific area. Abstract Aim : The aim was to illuminate the situation of patients with stroke in sparsely populated areas and their experience of person-centred rehabilitation at home. Methods : Fourteen persons with stroke who had received Early Supported Discharge home- rehabilitation following stroke were interviewed. The data were analyzed with a qualitative content analysis method. Results: The analysis resulted in one overall theme: Living a life with a new version of me 2.0, built up from three categories: A new strengthen sense of self, Being at home creates trust and self-management and Environmental factors essential for rehabilitation at home . Conclusion: The results exposed that early home rehabilitation in sparsely populated area following stroke influences the person’s possibilities to return to the life they lived before. Living a life with the new version of me 2.0 includes conditions related to prerequisites of own empowerment and the importance of both relativities and professionals.