**1. Introduction**

Stroke is a common neurological problem and one of the leading causes of death in developing countries of the world [1]. It is one of the most disabling diseases and has great emotional impact on both the survivors of stroke and their relatives [2]. Stroke can affect virtually all human functions and unlike other disabling conditions, the onset is sudden, leaving the survivor and family unprepared to deal with the consequences which can be clinical, social and economic [3]. In most developing countries, people affected by stroke present late to hospital and even then, are only kept in hospital for a short period until they are medically stable. They are then discharged home while still functionally dependent to the care of relatives who lack knowledge on what to do hence the need to be trained [3–5]. There are no institutions where they can get community support and the few that are available are beyond the reach of many. This puts the burden of care at home on the relatives. This is the case in Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa [5, 6]. The chapter therefore gives information on supporting informal caregivers in order to

improve functional outcomes among survivors of stroke and quality of life among both the survivors and caregivers [7].

It also gives an overview of the extent and consequences of the stroke problem in low resource settings, length of hospital stay and the implications on stroke survivors and their caregivers, and the impact of stroke in terms of mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, the chapter looks at the rehabilitation of stroke patients, the impact of stroke on caregivers, and how patient and caregiver training can improve outcomes for both the patient and caregiver in low resource settings. In addition, it highlights the reason why supporting survivors of stroke and their caregivers are important in these settings considering that there are no consistent hospital-based services to support them. Finally, it outlines how a training programme for stroke patients and their caregivers can be developed using Kern's six step model [8].
