Supportive Care Needs of Older Patients with Ischemic Stroke: A Scoping Review

Project Description Title: Supportive Care Needs of Older Patients with Ischemic Stroke: A Scoping Review Background: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability among the elderly. While clinical treatments focus on acute survival, many patients face complex, unmet supportive care needs during their recovery. These needs span across multiple domains, including physical, psychological, social, and informational support. Purpose: The primary objective of this scoping review is to map the existing evidence regarding the supportive care needs of older patients (aged 60 and above) diagnosed with ischemic stroke. We aim to: 1.Identify and categorize the different types of supportive care needs (e.g., informational, psychological, physical, social). 2.Examine how these needs evolve across different stages of the stroke recovery trajectory. 3.Identify the assessment tools currently used to measure these needs. 4.Highlight gaps in the existing literature to inform future research and clinical practice. Methodology (Short Overview): This review follows the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and is reported in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We will conduct a comprehensive search across major databases (including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and CNKI) for studies published in English and Chinese. Expected Outcomes: The findings of this review will provide a comprehensive "map" of the supportive care landscape for elderly stroke survivors. We expect to identify critical "unmet needs" that can help healthcare providers develop more tailored, age-appropriate intervention strategies to improve the quality of life and rehabilitation outcomes for this vulnerable population.