Post-Stroke Care at Home — What Edison Families Should Know

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can post-stroke home care start after discharge?

For most Edison families, the first home visit is arranged within 24 to 48 hours of discharge. When a discharge planner at JFK Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson, or another regional hospital calls before the patient leaves, the window often shrinks to the same day. The first visit is a free in-home assessment by a senior care coordinator who writes a care plan timed to the discharge instructions.

What does a typical week look like in the first month after a stroke?

The first month is often the busiest month of the recovery. A typical week may include skilled nursing visits to monitor vitals and medications, in-home physical therapy and occupational therapy on the rehabilitation block, daily home help for bathing and dressing while one side of the body is weaker, and periodic check-ins with the family physician. Each week's plan is reviewed and adjusted based on how the recovery is going.

Will Medicare cover the first weeks of post-stroke home care?

Medicare may cover skilled home health (skilled nursing visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) for stroke patients who are homebound and have physician orders. The non-medical home help that supports the daily routine alongside the skilled visits is generally not covered by Medicare and is paid privately or through long-term care insurance. Coverage details live at Medicare.gov.

What about speech therapy?

Many post-stroke patients benefit from in-home speech therapy when ordered by a physician. The therapy addresses speech production, swallowing safety, and cognitive-communication recovery. Medicare may cover skilled speech therapy at home for patients who meet the homebound and physician-orders criteria. See [in-home speech therapy](/services/speech-therapy) for service details.