Rehabilitation as a movement has grown out of the needs of disabled persons, which are different from those of the sick. Rehabilitation is developing into an holistic concept, which focuses on the whole person, not just on his or her physical or mental handicap. An holistic approach towards disabled persons and their rehabilitation is based on an awareness of the functional interdependence of psychological, physical, social and vocational factors in human health, illness and recovery. The physical, functional, psychological and social impact, which a stroke can have on a person, is described to illustrate the complexity of the disabling process, and the need for all rehabilitation team members to share holistic goals. The benefits of rehabilitation are maximized by an holistic approach, which aims at enabling persons with disabilities to function in society to the fullest physical, mental, social and vocational usefulness of which they are capable.
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