Clients with stroke and non-stroke and their guardians’ views on community reintegration status after in-patient rehabilitation

This study explores the challenges faced by individuals with neurological conditions, such as stroke and spinal cord injuries, when reintegrating into their communities after discharge from a rehabilitation center in Malawi. It looks at both the patients' and their caregivers' perspectives on these difficulties. The research compares community reintegration status over two consecutive years, seeking to understand if there are improvements or persistent issues. It uses interviews and home observations to gather data on the disabilities experienced and the environmental factors affecting reintegration. Guardians, who are family caregivers in Malawi, play a vital role in supporting clients during rehabilitation and after they return home. The study investigates whether guardians' perceptions of reintegration challenges align with those of the clients.

• 1
  Clients with stroke and non-stroke diagnoses experienced moderate to severe levels of disability related to difficulties with reintegration into their home and community settings.
• 2
  For those with non-stroke diagnoses, there was a significant improvement in reintegration between year 1 and year 2, but not for those with stroke diagnoses.
• 3
  Guardians' perceptions of clients' disability levels generally agreed with the clients' own perceptions, highlighting the shared understanding of the reintegration challenges.