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Occupational therapy (OT) benefits stroke victims who are able to return to their homes, but whether it benefits stroke victims who are institutionalized is unclear. Researchers randomized 228 U.K. care homes (>10 beds each) to an intervention program (3 months of OT, delivered by occupational therapists, that involved patient-centered goal setting, education of care home staff, and adaptations to the environment) or to a control group (usual care). A total of 1042 residents (64% women; mean age, 83) who had experienced strokes or transient ischemic attacks (including residents with language and cognitive impairments) were involved. Five OT visits per resident occurred in intervention homes.
The primary outcome was change in the Barthel inde…