Impact of disability on families of stroke clients.

This was a descriptive study using a convenience sample to gain information regarding the impact of disability on the significant other. The study revealed that for, the most part, the subjects were coping well. The subjects had some difficulty with feeling overprotective of and overcommited to the disabled family member. Some felt that the disabled person took up too much of their time. The study showed (in a limited sense) that families are in need of social support and respite care. The subjects, due to their ages and marital status, had no need to seek new opportunities and the wives and husbands had much fewer problems coping than offspring or others. It was seen that counseling, assessment and community support of the family as a whole is necessary to ensure successful rehabilitation and a return of the patient to his pre-morbid home. The inclusion of the family in the rehabilitation process is important in making sure that the client reaches full potential and that the family itself does not suffer ill consequences due to stress and changes in role.