Improving long-term outcome after stroke--the views of patients and carers.

Abstract

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability, often with devastating consequences for individuals and their families. Suggestions for alleviating these problems have come from professionals, but patients and carers have not specifically been asked their views on how to improve outcome. The results show that most care and support came from informal sources, formal services were poorly targeted and a third of carers were under considerable strain. Recommendations are made for improving services and support for patients and their carers.