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Residential and outpatient stroke rehabilitation for people working to regain movement, speech, thinking skills and independence after a stroke. CARF-accredited care in Hammond, for stroke survivors from across Louisiana.
Stroke rehabilitation is a structured program of medical care and therapy that helps a person relearn skills lost when a stroke damaged part of the brain. Physical, occupational, speech and cognitive therapists work together on walking, balance, arm and hand use, communication, memory and daily self-care, so the person can return home as independently as possible.
A stroke is an acquired brain injury. At NeuLife Rehabilitation of Louisiana, the same clinical team that treats brain injury works with stroke survivors, building each care plan around the person's abilities, home situation and goals.
After a stroke, most people move through more than one level of care. Knowing the difference helps families compare rehab centers for stroke patients near them and choose the right next step when the hospital starts planning discharge.
| Level of care | What happens there |
|---|---|
| Acute hospital | Emergency treatment, stabilization and early therapy in the first days after the stroke |
| Inpatient rehab hospital | A short, hospital-based stay with daily therapy for patients who still need close medical management |
| Post-acute residential rehab (NeuLife) | For patients who no longer need hospital care but still need intensive therapy and 24/7 support before going home |
| Outpatient therapy (NeuLife) | Continued therapy for people living safely at home who still have goals to reach |
Post-acute residential rehab bridges the gap between the hospital and home. It gives stroke survivors more time to rebuild skills in a structured setting when going straight home would not yet be safe. Read more about our full neurorehabilitation program.
A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bleeds. Most strokes are ischemic, caused by a clot or blockage. Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by bleeding, sometimes from a ruptured aneurysm. In both cases, brain cells in the affected area are damaged, and the skills that area controls can be lost or weakened.
The effects depend on where the stroke happened and how much tissue was injured. That is why two stroke survivors can have very different needs in rehab.
Often causes weakness on the right side of the body and, for most people, problems with speaking, understanding, reading or writing (aphasia).
Often causes weakness on the left side, trouble judging space and distance, and sometimes ignoring the left side of the body or surroundings.
Can affect balance, coordination, dizziness, vision and swallowing, even when strength is mostly intact.
Weakness or paralysis on one side, poor balance, slurred speech, trouble finding words, memory and attention problems, vision changes, fatigue, and emotional changes such as depression, anxiety or frustration. Many survivors have several of these at once, which is why stroke rehab works best with a full team.
Stroke is one of several non-traumatic causes of acquired brain injury, alongside aneurysm, tumor, near-drowning and lack of oxygen after a heart attack. Traumatic brain injuries from falls, car accidents and sports can cause many of the same problems with movement, communication and thinking.
Because NeuLife specializes in brain injury rehabilitation, our therapists work with these challenges every day. A stroke survivor benefits from a team that understands how the brain relearns, how cognitive and emotional changes affect progress, and how to prepare families for life at home.
Learn more on our brain injury rehabilitation and spinal cord injury rehabilitation pages.
Each stroke survivor receives a mix of therapies based on their evaluation and goals. Our interdisciplinary team works together so every discipline is aiming at the same outcomes.
Rebuilding strength on the weaker side, balance, standing and walking, using mobility aids where needed, to help stroke survivors move more safely.
Relearning daily activities such as dressing, grooming and cooking, working on arm and hand use, and using compensatory strategies and adaptive tools.
Treatment for aphasia and motor speech problems, helping survivors find words, understand others and speak more clearly.
Memory, attention, planning and problem solving, with practical strategies like checklists and reminders that carry over to home.
Support for depression, anxiety and grief, which are common after a stroke and can slow recovery if left untreated.
Planning and practice for a return to work, volunteering or other meaningful roles when that is part of the goal.
Medical care and nursing are part of every day, with support from neuropsychologists, recreational specialists, dietitians, community reintegration specialists and case managers.
Recovery after a stroke depends on the brain's ability to form new connections, known as neuroplasticity. The brain responds to focused, repeated practice of meaningful tasks. Every time a survivor practices standing from a chair, reaching for a cup or naming objects, they are giving the brain a chance to rewire.
Many people make their fastest gains in the first few months after a stroke. That makes the period right after the hospital stay especially important, and it is why we work to start rehabilitation as early as possible once a patient is ready.
Progress does not stop at a set date, though. Improvement can continue well beyond the early months with ongoing practice. A slowdown in progress is common and does not always mean recovery is over. Our team adjusts goals and methods as abilities change.
Every recovery moves at its own pace, but most stroke survivors follow the same general path through our program.
Families and hospital case managers can call us or schedule a tour. We explain the program and answer questions.
Our team reviews the patient's medical status and needs to recommend residential or outpatient care.
After admission, the clinical team completes a full evaluation. Goals reflect what matters to the survivor, like walking to the kitchen, talking on the phone with grandchildren or cooking a favorite meal.
Therapy, nursing and medical care follow a structured schedule, and the plan is updated as abilities improve.
Caregivers are invited into therapy to learn how to help safely with movement, communication and daily routines.
We plan the move home and into the community, and outpatient therapy is available for those who still have goals to reach.
Our interdisciplinary team brings more than 200 years of combined experience in clinical residential rehabilitation. Stroke survivors work with licensed professionals who focus on neurological recovery:
NeuLife Rehabilitation of Louisiana has been accredited by CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, since 2020 for our Residential Rehabilitation Program and Brain Injury Specialty Program.
We partner with the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana and the United Spinal Association of Louisiana, connecting families with education and support resources. Our mission and values explain how we approach care.
People who have had a stroke face a higher risk of having another. Every stroke survivor and caregiver should know the BE FAST signs. If you notice any of them, call 911 right away.
B
Balance: sudden loss of balance or coordination
E
Eyes: sudden vision loss or blurred vision
F
Face: one side of the face droops
A
Arm: weakness or numbness in one arm
S
Speech: slurred or confused speech
T
Time: call 911 immediately
Families often have only a few days to choose where a loved one goes after the hospital. Whether you are in Hammond, Ponchatoula, Baton Rouge, the Northshore or New Orleans, these questions make comparisons easier.
Patients come to NeuLife from across Louisiana and the Southeast. Visiting in person is the best way to decide.
Families often call us while their loved one is still in the hospital. Case managers and discharge planners anywhere in Louisiana can call 844-393-5433 to start a clinical review, and our team explains each step from there.
Every patient is treated at our Hammond facility. Survivors who live within about an hour, around Baton Rouge, the Northshore or New Orleans, can often keep working with our therapists as outpatients after a residential stay. Those from farther regions usually come for residential care, and family members are welcome to join therapy sessions when they visit.
Typical drive times to Hammond, which vary with traffic:
See every region on our Areas We Serve page, or call 844-393-5433 to ask about a transfer from a hospital near you.
Look at the level of care the patient needs, the team's experience with brain injury, accreditation, the therapies offered and how families are included. Touring each option and asking about discharge planning also helps. NeuLife in Hammond offers CARF-accredited residential and outpatient rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation often begins in the hospital once the patient is medically stable. Many people make their fastest gains in the first few months, so continuing intensive therapy right after discharge is important.
It varies widely based on the size and location of the stroke and the person's overall health. Some people recover quickly, while others work on goals for many months or longer. Improvement can continue beyond the first few months with ongoing practice.
Many stroke survivors regain the ability to walk, with or without a cane or walker. Physical therapy focuses on strength, balance and walking practice. How much someone recovers depends on the stroke and the individual.
Yes. Stroke is a type of acquired brain injury, and our team treats stroke alongside traumatic brain injury, aneurysm and other brain injuries. See our brain injury rehabilitation page for more.
Both. NeuLife Rehabilitation of Louisiana offers residential care with support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and outpatient therapy for people who can live safely at home.
Speech and language often improve with therapy, especially with regular practice. Our speech language pathologists work on aphasia and motor speech problems so survivors can communicate more clearly with family and friends.
Yes. Caregivers are invited to join therapy, learn how to help safely and ask questions, so the whole family is ready for the move home.
Yes. NeuLife is accredited by CARF for its Residential Rehabilitation Program and Brain Injury Specialty Program. Details are on our Accreditations page.
We are at 41238 Adams Rd, Hammond, LA 70403, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Get directions or call 844-393-LIFE (5433).
We know that choosing the next step in your recovery from a Brain Injury or Spinal Cord Injury is complex. Together, we can help you take the next step.
Contact us with any questions today.
