Supporting You at Home After a Stroke
Supporting You at Home After a Stroke
Helping you regain confidence, independence and achieve your recovery goals after returning home.
Leaving hospital is an important milestone after a stroke. The Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) supports you through your recovery by providing specialist rehabilitation, advice and practical support in your own home.
Our team works with you and your family to help you regain independence and achieve the goals that matter most to you.
Before You Leave Hospital
Before you return home, we’ll work closely with the hospital team to make sure everything is in place for a safe discharge.
This may include:
- Planning your rehabilitation.
- Discussing your recovery goals.
- Arranging equipment such as mobility aids or handrails.
- Visiting your home to assess any support or adaptations you may need.
Our aim is to make your transition home as smooth as possible.
Your First Visit at Home
Where possible, we’ll visit you on the day you return home.
During this visit we’ll:
- Check that you have everything you need.
- Assess how you are managing at home.
- Discuss your rehabilitation goals.
- Develop a personalised rehabilitation plan.
If you do not require ongoing rehabilitation, one of our nurses will usually offer a review within six weeks of your discharge.
Your Rehabilitation Journey
Stroke rehabilitation looks different for everyone.
Together we’ll work towards goals that are important to you.
This may include improving:
- Walking and mobility.
- Washing and dressing.
- Cooking and household activities.
- Speech and communication.
- Eating and swallowing.
- Hand and arm function.
- Returning to hobbies, work or community activities.
Rehabilitation often uses everyday activities as opportunities to practise important skills.
How Often Will We Visit?
Your rehabilitation programme will be tailored to your individual needs.
At first, you may receive visits every day.
As you become more independent, visits usually become less frequent.
Appointments may take place:
- At home.
- By video consultation.
- By telephone.
There is no fixed time limit for support. We’ll continue working with you until:
- Your rehabilitation goals have been achieved.
- You are confident to continue independently.
- Different services are more appropriate for your ongoing needs.
Meet Your Rehabilitation Team
You may be supported by a range of healthcare professionals working together.
Nurses
Support with medication, continence, sleep, lifestyle advice, intimacy and other stroke-related health concerns.
Physiotherapists
Help improve movement, balance, strength, posture, mobility and muscle control.
Occupational Therapists
Support everyday activities including washing, dressing, cooking, driving, returning to work and managing thinking or vision difficulties.
Speech and Language Therapists
Provide support for speech, communication, reading, writing, eating and swallowing difficulties.
Dietitians
Help maintain good nutrition, manage weight and provide advice about tube feeding where appropriate.
Rehabilitation Support Workers
Support therapy programmes and practise everyday activities such as personal care and meal preparation.
Life After Stroke Keyworkers
Provide information about community support, benefits, stroke groups and longer-term recovery services.
Emotional Wellbeing
Recovering from a stroke can affect your emotional wellbeing as well as your physical health.
Feeling low, anxious or frustrated is common.
Our team will regularly check how you’re coping and can offer support, advice or referrals if needed.
If you have concerns about your mood, please speak to any member of the team.
Personal Care Support
If you need help with activities such as:
- Washing and dressing
- Using the toilet
- Preparing meals
- Taking medication
our therapists and rehabilitation support workers can help you develop these skills.
If longer-term care is required, we’ll work with you, your family and social care services to arrange appropriate ongoing support.
Weekend Rehabilitation
Recovery continues every day.
Where appropriate, therapy or nursing visits may also be available at weekends.
Personal care support is provided seven days a week.
If you would prefer not to receive weekend visits, simply let your team know.
Continuing Your Recovery
Before you are discharged from the service, we’ll help you develop the confidence and skills to continue your recovery independently.
We’ll also signpost you to longer-term support services, such as local stroke charities and community organisations.
If new stroke-related rehabilitation goals develop in the future, you may be able to refer back into the service through your GP or by self-referral.
Useful Stroke Support
You may also find support from organisations including:
- Stroke Association
- Bristol After Stroke
- Different Strokes
- My Stroke Guide
These organisations provide information, peer support and advice to help you continue your recovery.
Tips from Other Stroke Survivors
Many people recovering from a stroke have shared simple advice that helped them during rehabilitation:
- Pace yourself and rest when you need to.
- Focus on long-term progress rather than quick results.
- Remember that every stroke recovery is different.
- Never be afraid to ask questions—there’s no such thing as a silly question.
Contact Us
Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS)
Telephone: 0300 125 5951
If using the telephone is difficult, please let us know and we’ll help you access information in another way.
