A survey of predischarge occupational therapy home assessment visits for stroke patients

Home assessment visits are a part of inpatient stroke rehabilitation programmes, but surprisingly little has been written about how often they are used or what they achieve. This study describes the use of home visits in 327 patients in a study of stroke rehabilitation after discharge from hospital. Home visits were noted in 149 (50%). A median of five problems were identified, most commonly involving mobility inside the property and the height of furniture hampering transfers. A median of four solutions were recorded, most commonly the provision of aids and equipment. Representatives of the community social and nursing services were present in a minority of visits. An occupational therapist (OT) from the Social Services was present in half the home visits in addition to the hospital OT. The study concludes that several important problems are identified on home visits and that simple solutions can be found in most cases. Social and health services, in Nottingham at least, should develop more rational working practices for home visits, so that liaison between hospital and community services is improved and duplication of work is avoided.