Table 2. Caregiver Assessment Domains and Recommendations.

Caregiver Assessment Domains	Caregiver Assessment Recommendations
Strength of dyad relationship	Nature of the pre-stroke relationship Potential sources of conflict Level of commitment to continuation of the relationship
Understanding of and willingness to perform care	Understanding of the amount and types of care needed Willingness to do some tasks but not others
Existing physical and mental health issues	Health care needs and preexisting conditions of the caregiver in light of the functional capacity of the stroke survivor Determine when caregiving may increase risk of injury to either
Pre-stroke roles and responsibilities	Pre-stroke employment of caregiver Child care or other dependent care responsibilities Work load division within the dyad Addition of new caregiving tasks
Accessibility of the home environment	Accessibility of entrances, doorways, surfaces, bathrooms, and bedrooms Caregiver should be consulted on potential changes needed
Availability of informal support	Accurate and realistic list of people who can be called upon to help in the transition Identification of specific needs and who in the informal support system is willing and able to help Assess for evidence of dysfunctional relationships at the family level
Financial resources	A sensitive assessment and timely assistance to make sure that needs are met prior to discharge. Assess understanding of the complex issues of insurance, wills, power of attorney, health care surrogacy, long-term care costs
Pre-stroke caregiver experiences	Educational, work, or life experiences gave some spouses the skills they needed to assume the caregiving role
Sustained capacity to provide care	Long-term implications and plan to sustain the caregiving role while finding time to care for self
Strategies for self-care	Coping styles and existing strategies for self-care. Continue to engage in healthy coping and self-care activities, such as taking time for hobbies, socializing with friends, and maintaining their own health so that they may continue to be effective caregivers for the long term.
Stroke as a crisis	The stroke event represented a sudden, unexpected life crisis Outcome and long-term prognosis still uncertain
Long-term meaning of stroke	The loss and grief that accompany the functional limitations of stroke are profound and chronic Caregivers and patients need ongoing support and advocacy to assist them as they try to reconcile and integrate the devastating loss related to stroke A holistic assessment of the meaning of the stroke event on the caregiver's life story Implications of the positive and negative aspects of caregiving on the overall well-being of the caregiver.