ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A2307 NORDIC AND BALTIC STROKE SURVIVORS’ PERSPECTIVES ON TRANSITION TO HOME ENVIRONMENT AND HOME-BASED STROKE REHABILITATION

Abstract Background Every year approximately 5.5 million stroke survivors need rehabilitation to manage persistent functional impairment. Implementation of early discharge with home rehabilitation in Nordic and Baltic region is beginning to play a crucial role. Environmental Enrichment research has shown that the home has the potential to offer a rich environment for rehabilitation and recovery following stroke. Yet there is a need to improve rehabilitation to ensure that stroke survivors receive the support they need for a better quality of life, and to explore whether enriched environment can improve function. Aim To explore stroke survivors experiences of home rehabilitation, particularly the transition to home environment after stroke, the rehabilitation process and the patients' thoughts of home modifications to support the rehabilitation process. Methods A qualitative interview study were strokesurvivors from Latvia, Norway and Sweden who have undergone home rehabilitation were included. Semi-structured interviews were performed in native languages, transcribed into English and analysed using codebook thematic analysis. Results One overarching theme elucidates that there are positive and negative challenges with early discharged after a stroke, especially cognitiv. Having access to the ESD team is experienced as very positive. Other overarching theme clarify that it is difficult for patients to understand what enriched environment means and that they think that changes in the home are unnecessary and that their home works well as it is. Conclusions Our findings raise awareness about problems after returning home and how the patients think about enriched environment which is important for us in the continued development of this concept. Conflict of interest Lena Rafsten:nothing to disclose