Rehabilitation

Community Stroke Rehabilitation Program

Eligible stroke survivors will be considered for enhanced Physiotherapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Social Work (SW) and Speech Language Pathology (SLP) services through Home and Community Care following discharge home. Note that for stroke survivors discharged to Long Term Care (LTC), PT will be provided by the LTC Home with enhanced OT, SLP and SW being provided through the Home and Community Care. The program now includes referral to the Rapid Response Nurse (RRN).  For information on this program please click on the resources below:

Community Stroke Rehab Program Reports:

Community Stroke Rehab Program Infographics:

Stroke Rehabilitation Intensity

Stroke Rehabilitation Intensity is a key component of inpatient stroke rehabilitation to support patient outcomes. The following resources support clinicians to understand stroke rehabilitation intensity, how to apply the definition to data collection, and provide related information/resources.

Stroke Rehabilitation Intensity eLearning Module & Quiz

To support the provision and collection of Stroke Rehabilitation Intensity, a Rehabilitation Intensity Learning Module & Quiz was developed in 2017 by the Ontario Regional Stroke Networks’ Rehabilitation Coordinator Group for inpatient rehabilitation programs that report to the National Rehabilitation Reporting System.  This resource was later adapted to an eLearning module in 2020 by the University Health Network for local and provincial use.

The Rehabilitation Intensity quiz is located at the end of the module.  Since your program may have established structures for education completion and quiz tracking, connect with your manager prior to starting the quiz. 

To access this resource, please click the following link:  Stroke Rehabilitation Intensity eLearning Module & Quiz
 

 

Stroke Rehabilitation Intensity Resources

 

Provincial Stroke Rehabilitation Intensity Resources

The following provides a link where you will find all of the resources developed by the Ontario Stroke Networks Regional Rehabilitation Coordinators and/or Provincial Rehabilitation Intensity Working Group including education tools, literature review, newsletters, presentations and conference posters. 

Provincial Context: Why Rehabilitation Matters: Repairing a Broken System - Dr. Mark Bayley (Kingston, 2012)

Clinical Tools

Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP)

Evidence indicates that more arm and hand activity early after a stroke can improve outcomes. GRASP is a self-directed arm and hand exercise program which provides opportunity for additional intervention to improve functional recovery. Click here to access the GRASP program manual and booklets.

Driving Fact Sheet for Healthcare Professionals

Return to Work Toolkit 

This Return to Work Toolkit provides stroke survivors, family members and healthcare providers with assistance to navigate the process of returning to work including information on local and provincial resources and an online Job Readiness Self-Assessment Guide. Click here to access the toolkit.

 Modifying the Home after Stroke

This professional resource manual is designed for stroke rehab therapists who assist stroke survivors and caregivers to adapt the home environment after stroke. Click here to see the toolkit.

Hemi Arm Protocol (Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network)

This package has been developed by the Southwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network to assist health care providers interested in the implementation of the best practice guideline: Management of the hemiplegic arm:  Implementing a best practice protocol.

Stroke Rehabilitation Unit Orientation (Stroke Network of Southwestern Ontario)

This is an 12-module independent learning program for providing inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit care. While the target audience is nurses new to practicing in a stroke rehabilitation unit, this resource can be used by an professional discipline who works within this setting.

AEROBICS(Aerobic Exercise Recommendations to Optimize Best Practice In Care after Stroke)

It has been shown that patients with stroke have been shown to have low endurance during exercise, likely due to both the event and also as a secondary reaction to forced inactivity. The foloowing information is intended for stroke survivors who are in the chronic phase of recovery (at least 6 months post stroke).

2019 Update AEROBICS Best Practice

2013 Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery Clincian's Guide

2013 Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery Patients Guide

E-learning module (link to StrokEngine.ca)

ViaTherapy App

Best practice and evidence-based recovery interventions for upper extremity stroke rehabilitation – at your fingertips. Click here to access the ViaTherapy App.

Rehabilitation Links

Candian Stroke Best Practices for Rehabilitation and Recovery after a Stroke:

https://www.strokebestpractices.ca/recommendations/stroke-rehabilitation

Click here to download the article outlining the recommendations, published in International Journal of Stroke

StrokEngine

A website designed to deliver the latest evidence on Stroke Rehabilitation- click here.

Evidence-Based Review of Stroke Rehabilitation (EBRSR)

A comprehensive website containing research-based synthesis of stroke rehabilitation- click here.

Rehabilitation Care Alliance

The Rehabilitative Care Alliance (RCA) works with partners across the province to strengthen and standardize rehabilitative care in Ontario through better planning, ongoing evaluation and quality improvement, and the integration of best practices across the care continuum. Click here to go to the website.

Aphasia Institute

The Aphasia Institute is a Canadian community-based centre of excellence, pioneering programs and practices that help people with aphasia learn how to communicate in new ways. Click here to go to the website.

Virtual Resources

University Health Network (UHN) Telrehab Toolkit

The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s Brain Rehabilitation Program and KITE Research Institute have launched the second edition of the virtual rehabilitation (telerehab) implementation toolkit. 

The Telerehab Toolkit was first developed in 2020 to help rehabilitation organizations and providers develop, improve, and evaluate telerehabilitation. The updated version features improvements based on user feedback and 12 informative patient- and clinician-facing videos.