Stroke Recovery at Home

Recovering from a stroke takes time, and every person's recovery is different. Many people keep getting better for months or even years. You, your family, and your care team can work together to help you heal and stay safe at home.

What it is

• A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
• Without blood, brain cells do not get oxygen. They start to die within minutes.
• Most strokes happen when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel.
• A TIA is sometimes called a "mini-stroke." Blood flow is blocked for only a short time.
• A TIA is a warning sign. It is an emergency, just like a stroke.

Common changes after a stroke

• Weakness or trouble moving one side of the body.
• Trouble talking, or trouble understanding what others say.
• Problems with memory, thinking, or paying attention.
• Trouble swallowing. You may cough or choke when you eat or drink.
• Trouble seeing on one side.
• Mood changes. Feeling sad, worried, or depressed is common.
• Bladder or bowel problems.
• Feeling very tired, having pain, or sleeping poorly.
• A higher chance of falling.

Recovery and rehab

• Recovery can take weeks, months, or years.
• Some people recover fully. Others have changes that last a long time.
• Rehab (therapy to help you relearn skills) often starts in the hospital.
• You can keep getting better even after a rehab program ends.
• A physical therapist helps you move more safely, like getting out of bed, walking, and using stairs.
• An occupational therapist helps you do everyday tasks again, like bathing, dressing, and cooking.
• A speech therapist helps with talking, understanding words, and communicating.
• Speech therapists can also help with swallowing problems.
• Tools like canes, braces, grab bars, and special forks and spoons can make daily tasks easier.
• Keep your body moving. Strong muscles help recovery.
• Fun matters, too. Tell your care team what you enjoy, like music, games, art, or time with friends.

Preventing another stroke

• After a stroke, the chance of having another one is higher.
• Ask your care team what caused your stroke and how to lower your risk.
• Take all your medicines just as prescribed.
• These may include medicines for blood pressure or cholesterol, or medicines that help prevent blood clots.
• Do not skip a dose or change how much you take without talking to your doctor.
• Choose heart-healthy foods. Eat less salt and fewer fatty foods.
• Be active in ways your care team says are safe.
• If you smoke, ask for help to quit. Do not let anyone smoke in your home.
• Try to get enough good sleep and find ways to handle stress.
• If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, keep working with your doctor to manage it.

Home safety

• Ask your nurse or therapist what changes would make your home safer.
• Keep things you use most on shelves that are easy to reach.
• A grabber tool can help you pick things up without losing your balance.
• Clothes with Velcro, pullover tops, and slip-on shoes are easier to put on.
• If you have trouble swallowing, follow the food plan your care team gave you.
• If you use a wheelchair or sit a lot, change positions often. Check the skin on your heels, hips, tailbone, and elbows each day for sores.
• Do not drive until your doctor says it is OK.

Help for caregivers

• Talk in a quiet room with the TV off.
• Speak slowly and use simple words. Do not shout.
• Give your loved one plenty of time to answer.
• Ask questions that can be answered "yes" or "no."
• Give only a few choices at a time.
• Break tasks into small, simple steps.
• Pointing, hand signs, and pictures can help.
• Watch for signs of sadness or depression. Tell the care team.
• Caregivers need care, too. Make time for yourself.
• Support groups can help both stroke survivors and families.

How home health can help

• Home health care brings care, like nursing and therapy, to you at home.
• It follows a care plan from your doctor.
• A nurse can come to your home to check on your health. The nurse gives the treatments your doctor ordered and teaches you and your family.
• A physical therapist helps you move more safely at home, with exercises made just for you.
• An occupational therapist helps you do everyday tasks again, as safely and on your own as you can.
• A speech therapist helps with talking, understanding words, and communicating.
• A medical social worker can help you find community resources, plan ahead, and get emotional support.
• A home health aide can help with personal care, like bathing, dressing, and grooming.
• Ask your doctor if home health care is right for you.

Call your doctor if you notice

• Joints that are getting stiff or hard to move.
• Trouble getting out of bed or a chair.
• Skin sores or red spots that do not go away.
• Pain that is getting worse.
• A fall.
• Choking or coughing when eating.
• Fever, burning when you pee, or needing to pee often.
• Feeling sad or down most of the time.
• Signs of bleeding if you take a blood thinner. These include blood in your pee, red or black stools, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, or bruises you cannot explain.

Call 911 if

• You see signs of a stroke. Use the letters BE FAST:
• B is for Balance. Is there sudden loss of balance or dizziness?
• E is for Eyes. Is there sudden trouble seeing?
• F is for Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• A is for Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down?
• S is for Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?
• T is for Time. Call 911 right away.
• Also call 911 for a sudden, very bad headache with no known cause.
• Call 911 even if the signs go away.
• Write down the time the signs started.
• Do not drive to the hospital. Wait for the ambulance.
• Call 911 for bleeding that is very bad or will not stop.

Questions to ask your doctor

• What caused my stroke?
• What can I do to lower my chance of another stroke?
• What does each of my medicines do? What side effects should I watch for?
• What kinds of therapy do I need, and for how long?
• What activities are safe for me?
• When is it safe for me to drive?
• What changes should we make at home?
• What foods and drinks are safe for me to swallow?
• Who can help if I feel sad or worried?
• Where can my family find support?

Related pages

• Skilled Nursing
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Medical Social Work
• Certified Home Health Aides
• Fall Prevention
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "About Stroke." https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about/index.html (checked Oct 1, 2026, PT)
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Signs and Symptoms of Stroke." https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs-symptoms/index.html (checked Oct 1, 2026, PT)
3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH. "Stroke Recovery." https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/stroke/recovery (checked Oct 1, 2026, PT)
4. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. "Stroke - discharge." https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000132.htm (checked Oct 1, 2026, PT)
5. American Stroke Association (a division of the American Heart Association). "Stroke Rehab." https://www.stroke.org/en/life-after-stroke/stroke-rehab (checked Oct 1, 2026, PT)
6. American Stroke Association (a division of the American Heart Association). "Family Caregivers." https://www.stroke.org/en/help-and-support/for-family-caregivers (checked Oct 1, 2026, PT)

Last reviewed: October 1, 2026