The purpose of this thesis was to provide Ilveskoti, a rehabilitation centre located in Hämeenlinna, with a guide for the families of cerebral infarction patients. The request for the need of the guide came from the charge nurse and the staff. The guide highlights the importance of relatives’ participa-tion in the rehabilitation of cerebral infarction patients. The guide explains how the relatives can take active part in the rehabilitation and help the pa-tient rehabilitate the best way possible. The guide describes the process of rehabilitation and everything it includes. The aim was to bring out practical examples on how the relatives can support the rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation of cerebral infarction patients was chosen as the topic for the thesis because the subject is interesting. Cerebrovascular diseases are a growing problem in Finland and it is important to share the information on it to everyone.

The thesis explains cerebrovascular diseases in general but focuses in the theoretical framework on the cerebral infarction and its rehabilitation. The rehabilitation process is discussed from a nurse’s point of view. For the background of the discussion, a survey was conducted among the nurses of Ilveskoti. They were asked about their knowledge and experiences in the treatment of cerebral infarction patients.

One of the purposes of the thesis was to educate people on the cerebrovas-cular diseases and the changes in life it causes so that people would know how to pay more attention to their way of life and thus prevent ill health. Cerebral infarction changes the life of the patient and their families per-manently. Rehabilitation is a difficult and long process but it can achieve excellent results. Versatile, individual rehabilitation enables a life worth living.