Stroke and Neurological Rehabilitation Backgrounder
St. John’s Rehab is the only hospital in Ontario solely dedicated to specialized rehabilitation. Our stroke and neurological rehabilitation program is for patients who are recovering from strokes, Multiple Sclerosis and other neuro-degenerative diseases, recent neurosurgery and neuro-oncology.
- Program partners include the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Community Care Access Centre, Acquired Brain Injury Network, Alzheimer Association, The Aphasia Institute, Guillian-Barré Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ontario March of Dimes and Stroke Recovery Association.
- Our multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals develops realistic goals and timelines with each patient and keeps in close contact with the patient and his or her family. This helps achieve maximum recovery, independence and quality of life.
- The individually customized program consists of assessment, treatment and support focused on the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Patients receive customized rehabilitation programs that address their individual health, social and emotional issues.
- Our program is Aphasia-friendly.
- We offer comprehensive education and support programs to help patients manage speech and cognitive impairments, maintain promote optimal health and wellness, and decrease risk of further stroke or brain injury.
- Once discharged, patients can benefit from a seamless continuum of care by being referred to our outpatient rehabilitation program.
- Our highly skilled and committed multidisciplinary rehab team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, pharmacists, physicians, dietitians, social workers, psychologists and spiritual care.
- As a teaching hospital for the University of Toronto, we excel in teaching and researching rehabilitation care. We have established a Neuroscience Alliance with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care to advance research and ensure patients get the best neurological care when and where they need it.
St. John’s Rehab stroke and neurological program patients (April 2009 – March 2010)
- Total inpatient beds: 31
- Inpatients admitted: 215
- Outpatient visits: 9,360
- Typical length of inpatient stay: approximately four weeks
- Average age of patients: 68 years old
- Patients aged 55 or older: 81 per cent
- Gender of patients: 51 per cent male, 49 per cent female
Canadian stroke statistics
According to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada :
- Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Canada. 6% of all deaths in Canada are due to stroke.
- Each year, about 14,000 Canadians die from stroke. More women than men die from stroke.
- More than 50,000 strokes occur in Canada each year. That’s one stroke every 10 minutes.
- A stroke survivor has a 20% chance of having another stroke within 2 years.
- Stroke costs the Canadian economy $3.6 billion a year.