Despite how effective it can be for helping stroke survivors and their caregivers manage the physical, mental and emotional health challenges that come with surviving a stroke, palliative care is often underused, according to a Dec. 16 news release from the American Heart Association.
A recent article review found between 0.4% to 8.9% of stroke survivors are referred to a palliative care specialist, the release said.
“Even though the majority of strokes are not immediately life-threatening, every stroke is life-altering and every stroke requires high-quality, person-centered care,” Claire Creutzfeldt, MD, co-author of the statement and associate professor of neurology at Seattle-based University of Washington said in the release. “Integrating palliative care principles into stroke care is fundamental for all patients and at every stage after a stroke.”
The statement calls for more research to be done on what happens during the post-acute phase, after a stroke survivor is discharged from the hospital.
Recent studies found 34% to 45% of stroke survivors were discharged home without additional care services, 30% to 42% were discharged to inpatient post-acute care facilities and 10% to 11% were discharged home with additional care services.
The statement also addressed palliative care needs, holistic assessment, post-stroke care inequities and post-stroke end-of-life care.
Read the full scientific statement here.
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