Condition guide
Care after a stroke in England: rehabilitation, help at home and care homes
About 100,000 people have a stroke in the UK each year, and most go home from hospital needing some help. The first weeks matter most for recovery, and much of the support in that period is free.
In England there are 11,231 home care agencies registered for physical disability care (88% of those rated Good or Outstanding) and 4,442 care homes registered for nursing care (80% of those rated Good or Outstanding), according to the CQC register.
Reviewed 20 October 2026 by The Care Panel editorial team · Next review April 2027 · Editorial policy
Leaving hospital
Before discharge, ask about early supported discharge from the stroke team and about reablement: short-term care at home to help someone relearn daily tasks. Reablement and intermediate care are free for up to six weeks in England. Ask for a care needs assessment before the free period ends so longer-term help is in place.
Help at home
Home care can help with washing, dressing, meals and medication while rehabilitation continues. Look for carers who will encourage independence rather than doing everything, and who will follow the exercises set by the physiotherapist or occupational therapist. Communication problems after a stroke are common; a speech and language therapist can advise carers.
Adaptations and equipment
An occupational therapist can assess the home for rails, a shower seat, a stairlift or a hospital bed. Minor adaptations and equipment under £1,000 are free from the council, and a Disabled Facilities Grant can pay for bigger changes such as a level-access shower.
When a care home is needed
If someone needs help day and night, or two carers to move them safely, a care home may be the safer option, often a nursing home if they have complex health needs. Respite stays can also give family carers a break while recovery continues.
Find stroke care near you
Home care agencies: physical disability care
- Birmingham 241
- Bilston 232
- Buckhurst Hill 230
- Leicester 226
- Tipton 218
- Coseley 218
- Smethwick 212
- Oldbury 197
- Chigwell 194
- Sedgley 189
- Wednesbury 184
- West Bromwich 183
- Willenhall 182
- Manchester 178
- Aveley 177
- Nottingham 174
Care homes: nursing care
- Croydon 36
- Newcastle upon Tyne 29
- Leeds 27
- Barnet 27
- Kingston upon Thames 23
- Bromley 23
- Derby 23
- Sheffield 22
- Worthing 22
- Liverpool 22
- Sutton 21
- Northampton 21
- Brighton 20
- Southport 20
- Chester 20
- Hillingdon 20
Our guides
- Recovering at Home After Hospital: How Reablement Works
- What is reablement? The 6 weeks of free care explained
- Stroke care at home: support during recovery
- What happens when reablement ends? Arranging ongoing care
- Stroke recovery timeline: care needs week by week
- Home adaptations after a stroke
- Hospital discharge from Worthing Hospital: what families need to know
- Care after hospital discharge in London: step-by-step checklist
Questions
Is care after a stroke free?
Reablement and intermediate care are free for up to six weeks in England. After that, care is means-tested by the council, unless someone qualifies for NHS Continuing Healthcare because their needs are mainly health needs.
How long does stroke recovery take?
The fastest recovery is usually in the first three months, but many people keep improving for a year or more. Rehabilitation, practice and the right support at home all help.
Free download
Choosing a care home: the 40-point checklist
Forty questions on staffing, daily life, rooms, fees and the contract, laid out so you can compare three homes.
Checklists
Visiting a care home · Choosing a home care agency · Live-in care · Dementia care · Easy Read: care costs
Sources: NHS: stroke recovery · Stroke Association · GOV.UK: Disabled Facilities Grants. Provider counts from the CQC register (Open Government Licence v3.0). This guide is general information, not legal, financial or medical advice.
CQC register data (Oct 2026), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel is independent of every provider listed.