After a stroke, rehabilitation helps patients rebuild their strength and independence. Inpatient stroke rehabilitation gives patients access to the 24/7 support of an interdisciplinary healthcare team dedicated to their individualized stroke recovery.

Patients typically receive inpatient rehabilitation services at a designated stroke rehabilitation centre. To give patients equal and timely access to care, you may continue your recovery at any of the centres serving our region. Currently, there are three designated stroke rehabilitation centres in Waterloo Wellington:

Referrals

Referrals can be submitted through Coordinated Bed Access (CBA) by your healthcare team.

Inpatient rehab at Grand River Hospital

When you arrive at the Hospital, the Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation team will meet with you to discuss your goals and work with you to develop a care plan. During the program, you will take part in regular therapy sessions that may include exercise and activities to improve any of the following:

  • mobility, balance, strength, and coordination
  • speaking or swallowing
  • reading or writing
  • thinking and memory
  • using adaptive equipment like a walker or a shower bench

Therapy also includes the exercises and activities you do on your own between therapy sessions. This may include personal hygiene and grooming, dressing, eating, practicing the exercises from therapy, and other self-care activities all are important to help you get ready to transition back into the community.

Directions

The Stroke Rehabilitation Unit is located at the Freeport Campus on the second floor in Union Terrace.

Parking

For information about parking options and rates at the Freeport Campus, please visit the following page: Parking at the Freeport Campus. Monthly and semi-monthly parking rates are available.

Contact us

Grand River Hospital
Freeport Campus
3570 King Street East
Kitchener, ON
N2A 2W1

Tel: 519-742-3611 Ext: 8318 (UT2)

Staying at the Hospital

What to bring

The following are some items that you may want to have during your hospital stay:

  • comfortable, loose-fitting clothes (to be used during therapy sessions)
  • shoes with non-slip soles
  • hearing aids and glasses for those who need them
  • personal items such as toiletries, dentures, incontinent products, or a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine (if one is used at home)
  • comfort items like books or a personal tablet or phone to use the Hospital’s free Wi-Fi network

Please label all personal items, and we ask that you leave your valuable items at home. The Hospital is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Meet the stroke healthcare team

Having a stroke is overwhelming for the patient and caregivers alike. There is a large team dedicated to helping you reach your recovery goals and could include:

  • Physicians are doctors who are responsible for patients' medical care.
  • Nurses work closely with patients and their families during all stages of recovery, coordinating patient care and providing physical care, education, support, and assessments.
  • Clinical assistants support team members in the basic care of patients.
  • Occupational therapists help patients adapt so they can participate in activities like dressing, bathing, preparing and eating meals, driving, returning to work, and leisure activities.
  • Physiotherapists help patients recover their physical abilities, including strength, balance, and mobility.
  • Pharmacists teach patients about medications, how to take them safely, and what side effects to watch for.
  • Social workers support patients’ and families’ social and emotional needs, connecting them to community services such as caregiver support and respite care, housing, and financial aid.
  • Therapeutic recreation specialists use recreation and leisure to help maximize patients' independence and quality of life.
  • Registered dietitians assess nutritional status and ability to eat, identifying safe, nutritious foods that help patients recover.
  • Speech-language pathologists help patients with swallowing and communication, including speaking.
  • Spiritual care advisors integrate spiritual beliefs and practices with therapeutic techniques, to address the emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of well-being.
  • Stroke navigators support patients and their families as they transition through the stroke system from hospital to community.
  • Spiritual care advisors integrate spiritual beliefs and practices with therapeutic techniques, to address the emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of well-being.
  • Home and community care coordinators discuss home services and therapies patients may qualify for to assist in a safe return home.
  • March of Dimes volunteers have lived stroke experience and visit patients and families to provide emotional support, education, and connections to the community and the After Stroke program.

Information for family members and care partners

If your loved one is receiving stroke care, you might be wondering how you can help. The following are a few practical ways that family members and care partners may be able to support someone who is recovering from a stroke:

  • Participate in their therapy sessions to learn how to assist them if you will be providing support when they return home.
  • Attend a discharge planning meeting.
  • Purchase any recommended therapy equipment for them to use at home.
  • Assist them with therapy activities at home once they’ve been discharged from the Hospital.

Please speak with your loved one’s healthcare team for more guidance on how you may be able to provide support and be involved in their care.