PEER-HOMEcare: Pedagogy and Enriched Environment for Rehabilitation - Holistic, Optimised, Methodical, and Empathetic care

Introduction to the PEER-HOMEcare Project: Enhancing Stroke Rehabilitation at Home The PEER-HOMEcare project has the potential to transform stroke rehabilitation by focusing effective care within the comfort of the patient's own home. Research in neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to reorganise itself, has shown that the threemonth period immediately after a stroke is a critical window for recovery. This makes home-based rehabilitation incredibly important. What is PEER-HOMEcare? PEER-HOMEcare introduces a novel approach to stroke rehabilitation by leveraging the concept of an Enriched Environment (EE). This method draws inspiration from animal studies, which have demonstrated significant improvements in animals' motor skills and cognitive functions when they are placed in a stimulating environment. Our goal is to translate these findings into human rehabilitation, effectively bridging the gap between neuroscience, animal research, and clinical practice. How Will it Work? Our approach combines traditional EE methods with a person-centered strategy, tailoring rehabilitation to each patient’s needs. By involving patients and families in co-designing the process and adapting environments through individual-environmental scaling, we encourage exploratory behaviors essential for recovery. Collaborative Efforts PEER-HOMEcare is part of a European project under the umbrella of the Transforming Health and Care Systems partnership. This project includes collaboration between Sweden, Latvia, and Portugal, and is led by Norway. Conclusion By integrating these innovative methods, PEER-HOMEcare aims to significantly improve stroke rehabilitation outcomes. Our project aims to provide a more personalised, effective, and accessible approach to stroke recovery, making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families.

The PEER-HOMEcare project focuses on effective home-based care, for stroke rehabilitation. Recent neuroplasticity research reveals that the first three months post-stroke are crucial for brain recovery, making home environments key for rehabilitation. PEER- HOMEcare is an innovative method for leveraging Enriched Environment (EE) research. This approach, inspired by animal studies showing significant motor and cognitive improvements through enriched environments, aims to apply these insights to human stroke rehabilitation, bridging the gap between neuroscience, animal research, and clinical practice. PEER HOMEcare enhances EE methods by integrating a person-centered approach with pedagogical principles like co-design and individual-environmental scaling, customizing home-based EE for each individual's unique needs to encourage exploratory behavior essential for rehabilitation. NIH will lead the development of universal principles and guidelines for creating EE for clinical staff, stroke patients, and their families. Sunnaas will lead the evaluation of the feasibility and usability of these principles to support healthcare professionals, patients, and their families with skills for a more equitable home care future.