Brain Injury, Stroke & Young Stroke
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare provides specialized brain injury and stroke rehabilitation for individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries, acquired brain injuries, and stroke. Our interdisciplinary team combines advanced technology, specialized expertise, and personalized treatment plans to help patients improve function, maximize independence, and adapt to life after injury.
From initial recovery through community reintegration, Gaylord’s programs support the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs of each patient. Through comprehensive rehabilitation and individualized care, we help patients and families navigate recovery and achieve meaningful goals.
Our inpatient program supports each stage of recovery with therapies that address the ability to speak, comprehend, reason, remember and work toward physical gains such as strength, balance and activities of daily living. You have a choice in where you receive care. Speak with your healthcare provider or care manager about a referral to Gaylord to begin the admissions process.
Gaylord's outpatient programs use various rehabilitation techniques, individual and group sessions, and new technology to maximize function, independence, and community reintegration.
Traurig House, located on our 400-acre Wallingford campus, is Connecticut's only transitional living center for patients recovering from a stroke or brain injury.
Every concussion is unique. Our physiatrists, neuropsychologists, sports medicine physical therapists, vestibular/balance specialists, and occupational and speech therapists work together to evaluate and assess your injury and tailor an individualized care plan based on age, type, and extent of injury.
Aphasia Therapy
Our intensive Aphasia Therapy outpatient program centers on strengthening communication skills, auditory comprehension, verbal and written expression, and speech.
AVM
An AVM is a tangle of blood vessels that irregularly connect arteries and veins, disrupting blood flow and oxygen circulation and potentially causing bleeding in the brain, a stroke, or brain damage. Surprisingly, this affects people as young as teenagers, and those who chose Gaylord successfully return to their community and active lives
Cognitive Therapy
The Cognitive Therapy Program is an intensive full day, individualized program that includes a mix of group and individual therapies provided on an outpatient basis.
Concussion Program
Gaylord specialists understand that every concussion is unique, and the priorities for recovery will differ depending on the patient's age and the type and extent of the injury. Our team of physiatrists, neuropsychologists, sports medicine physical therapists, vestibular/balance specialists, and occupational and speech therapists delivers personalized care for each patient, supporting individual goals for recovery.
Dysphagia Treatment
Dysphagia can result from a stroke, brain injury, or neuromuscular or neurological condition that affects the brain or central nervous system, causing swallowing problems and choking. Our therapists focus on restoring the swallow function using technology and a range of treatments to restore eating and drinking.
Early Recovery Program
This inpatient program is designed for patients who cannot engage in a robust therapy schedule but are expected to progress to an intensive rehabilitation program. Patients are guided through therapies that can take them from post-coma to community reentry at a rate conducive to their recovery. Referrals for this program come from team members at acute care hospitals.
Encephalopathy
Neurological Program
We help patients achieve mobility, memory, and communication goals. Inpatients receive 1-3 hours of daily therapy for personal independence. Every plan is carried out by a team that may involve occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech/language therapy, and care managers. Specialists in psychology, nutritional services, respiratory therapy, and therapeutic recreation may also be involved. We also offer outpatient services for continued care in Wallingford, Fairfield and North Haven.
Neuropsychological Program
If problems with memory or an inability to think clearly have become a continuing problem for you, you may be a candidate for a Neuropsychological Evaluation.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy promotes safe and efficient daily activities,enhancing independence in crucial areas like self-care, parenting, cooking, driving, and work. Specialists emphasize endurance training, simplifying tasks, and home equipment. EasyStreet™, a hospital-based simulated community, aids patient recovery and success.
Physical Therapy
Skilled physical therapists work with patients to define goals, reduce pain, and enhance mobility, function, as well as personal performance. Gaylord uses advanced technologies and techniques to accelerate rehabilitation and return people to maximum health and quality of life.
Physiatry
Physiatry diagnoses and treats conditions that have resulted in temporary or permanent loss of function affecting independence. The goal is to improve quality of life by avoiding surgery and narcotics.
Speech Therapy
Speech-language pathologists at Gaylord specialize in treating speech, language, and cognitive deficits associated with neurological disorders. Speech therapists help with the recovery of speech, verbal expression, and comprehension. They support the recovery of reading, writing, and other cognitive and communication skills. Swallowing impairment (dysphagia) and stuttering are also key conditions treated by Gaylord speech experts.
Therapeutic Recreation
Therapeutic Rec (TR) uses leisure and recreation programs to improve an individual’s quality of life and physical, cognitive, social, and emotional function. It imparts lifelong recreation skills, encourages adaptive equipment use, and promotes community engagement.
Traurig House
Traurig House is Connecticut's only transitional living center for patients recovering from a stroke or brain injury. This eight-bed, co-ed house is on our 400-acre pastoral campus in Wallingford and serves asa bridge from hospital to home.
Workers Compensation
We offer coordinated, individually managed, team-based, rehabilitative, and complex medical care for injured workers in inpatient and outpatient areas. Treatment plans are created and led by a board-certified medical director with extensive workers' compensation experience and coordinated by a dedicated Care Manager
Young Stroke Program
Stroke survivors who were very active before their stroke are often ready, willing, and able to participatein a more focused program. Participation is related to the patient's activity prior to the stroke, specifically if the person was a student, caregiver, or employed.
Where you choose to receive care can make all the difference. Gaylord offers an extraordinary range of technologies and patient services, all based on the latest research and best practices.
Hear about our Young Stroke Program and tailored therapies
"I had this unique experience of coming in here as a patient and seeing how much people care about you"
Megan Panico, MD

After building a large following by spreading joy and positivity on her TikTok channel, Michaela’s life changed in an instant when a ruptured AVM led to multiple brain surgeries and a long road to recovery. Today, she’s using her voice to inspire others with the message that faith and hope can make all the difference in the world in where you end up.

After a massive stroke turned his world upside down, LaSalle Blanks is opening up about what recovery really looks like and the mindset that helped him move forward. His experience offers a candid look at life after stroke and the progress that’s possible with the right care.
What is brain injury and stroke rehabilitation?
Brain injury and stroke rehabilitation is specialized care designed to help individuals improve function, maximize independence, and adapt to life after a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or acquired brain injury. Rehabilitation can address physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs through an individualized treatment plan.
Who can benefit from brain injury and stroke rehabilitation?
Individuals recovering from a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or acquired brain injury may benefit from specialized rehabilitation. Depending on their needs, therapy can address challenges with mobility, balance, strength, communication, memory, reasoning, and activities of daily living.
What types of therapy are included in brain injury and stroke rehabilitation?
Brain injury and stroke rehabilitation may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy, along with other specialized services. Treatment may focus on mobility, strength, balance, communication, cognitive skills, swallowing, and activities of daily living.
What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient brain injury and stroke rehabilitation?
Inpatient rehabilitation provides structured therapy and care for patients during their recovery, including therapies focused on communication, cognition, physical function, and daily activities. Outpatient rehabilitation allows patients to continue receiving specialized therapy through individual and group sessions while progressing toward greater independence and community reintegration.
Why is access to outpatient rehabilitation important after an inpatient stay?
Recovery often continues after a patient leaves inpatient rehabilitation. Access to outpatient care provides an important continuum of rehabilitation as patients transition back into their homes and communities. Unlike other inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) and inpatient rehabilitation units (IRUs), Gaylord offers both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, allowing patients to continue working toward their rehabilitation goals without having to find a separate provider for outpatient care.
Why is it important to choose a rehabilitation program that offers both inpatient and outpatient care?
A rehabilitation program that offers both inpatient and outpatient care can provide continuity throughout different stages of recovery. Gaylord offers both levels of care, allowing patients to transition from inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient therapy as their needs change and continue working toward their individual recovery goals.
Why is CARF accreditation important for a stroke rehabilitation program?
CARF accreditation demonstrates that a rehabilitation program meets established standards for quality and patient-centered care. For patients and families considering stroke rehabilitation, CARF accreditation can provide additional confidence that a program is committed to maintaining high standards and continuously improving the quality of its services. Gaylord's CARF accreditation reflects its commitment to providing specialized rehabilitation for individuals recovering from stroke and brain injury.
How does rehabilitation technology support stroke and brain injury recovery?
Rehabilitation technology can provide additional opportunities for patients to practice movement and functional skills during recovery. Gaylord incorporates advanced technology and a range of rehabilitation techniques into its programs, using research and best practices to support patients as they work toward improved function and independence.
How long does brain injury or stroke rehabilitation take?
The length of rehabilitation varies based on each patient's injury, needs, goals, and progress. Because every injury is different, Gaylord develops individualized treatment plans designed around each patient's specific needs and recovery goals.
Can someone recover from a stroke or brain injury?
Recovery looks different for every person, but rehabilitation can help individuals improve function, maximize independence, and adapt to life after an injury. Gaylord's programs support patients through different stages of recovery while helping them work toward meaningful individual goals.
What challenges can rehabilitation help with after a stroke?
Stroke rehabilitation can address a variety of physical, cognitive, and communication challenges. Depending on the patient's needs, therapy may focus on strength, balance, mobility, communication, comprehension, reasoning, memory, swallowing, and activities of daily living.
Does Gaylord provide both inpatient and outpatient brain injury and stroke rehabilitation?
Yes. Gaylord provides both inpatient and outpatient brain injury and stroke rehabilitation, along with transitional programs. This continuum of care supports patients through different stages of recovery, from initial rehabilitation through community reintegration.
Does Gaylord offer transitional living for people recovering from a brain injury or stroke?
Yes. Traurig House is a transitional living center for patients recovering from a stroke or brain injury. Located on Gaylord's Wallingford campus, the center provides a bridge between inpatient rehabilitation and returning home, helping patients prepare for greater independence and community reintegration.
Request an Appointment
Call 203-284-2810 for more information about inpatient admissions.