Stroke care in long-term care facilities in southwestern Ontario.

Purpose: This study describes the current state of stroke care and rehabilitation in facility-based long-term care (LTC).Method: LTC representatives, community partners (including physiotherapists and occupational therapists), stroke survivors, and family members were interviewed about stroke care provided in LTC facilities. Results: Limitations of the current system were identified including inadequate provision of therapy, unequal access to specialized rehabilitation, lack of staff training to care for the specialized needs of residents with stroke, and the lack of coordinated and consistent care. Conclusion: This study identified challenges and barriers to providing optimal stroke care in LTC facilities. Recommendations for enhancing stroke care are suggested.