Restoring lives, relieving burdens: The role of stroke rehabilitation in supporting and empowering caregivers: A review

Stroke is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality globally, putting a huge strain on patients, families, and healthcare systems. While stroke rehabilitation is critical for regaining function and improving outcomes for survivors, it also places a significant burden on informal carers. Caregivers play an important role in sustaining rehabilitative improvements and ensuring continuity of care, often at the expense of their own physical, mental, and social health. This review aims to explore the extensive impact of stroke rehabilitation on caregivers by synthesizing information from current research on caregiver burden, coping methods, and quality of life. Key findings show that active caregiver participation in rehabilitation improves patient adherence and outcomes while also increasing caregiver stress and psychological strain. Caregivers also have a substantial burden due to factors such as stroke severity, insufficient training, and restricted support networks. Structured home-based programs, psychoeducation, peer-support groups, and digital health treatments are among the emerging options that show promise for lowering caregiver stress and increasing resilience. This review emphasises the need to incorporate caregiver-centred techniques into rehabilitation frameworks to promote optimal recovery for stroke survivors while reducing caregiver strain.