Social effects of stroke

The effect on the chief carer in 97 patients with fresh stroke has been observed for 4 years and compared with 19 stroke patients without identifiable chief carer—84% lived together and a further 5% saw each other daily. The largest group of chief carers were women, aged less than 60, and over one quarter of them had responsibility for other people. Deterioration in the chief carer's health was common during the first year and 14% of those in employment gave up their jobs because of the patient's stroke. By the end of one year post-stroke 27% of the patients they were looking after in the community were totally dependent (including personal care). The main problems they found were in relation to behaviour and the need for constant supervision. It is concluded that the vast majority of stroke survivors are living in the community and that their chief carers could be afforded more support by mobile “stroke teams” at an early stage, more involvement of relatives in rehabilitation and the continued development of stroke clubs.