In the present study the potential for functional improvement in 103 stroke 
patients attending a geriatric day hospital was evaluated using the Orpington 
Prognostic Scale (OPS). This information may assist in coordinating the 
patients' and caregivers' expectations, allocating resources efficiently, and 
advance care planning. The Spearman correlation was used to calculate the 
association between OPS score and Functional Independent Measure (FIM), the 
Nottingham Extended ADL Index (NEAI), and the timed Get Up and Go test (TUG). 
The studied population was divided into two groups: patients with mild 
neurological impairment (OPS score<3.2) and those with moderate to severe 
neurological impairment (OPS score> or =3.2) and their performance on the above 
outcome measure were compared. The OPS score significantly correlated (p<0.001) 
with discharge scores of FIM (r=-0.730), NEAI (r=-0.675), and TUG (r=0.448). 
Patients with OPS score <3.2 achieved significantly higher discharge scores 
(p<0.001) in all three measures (FIM, TUG, and NEAI) compared to patients with 
OPS score > or =3.2. Nevertheless, patients with moderate to severe neurological 
impairment achieved greater score changes in FIM and TUG than patients with mild 
neurological impairment, although their discharge scores were less favorable. 
These results indicate that stroke patients even the more impaired, may 
continually recover and should be exposed to a prolonged rehabilitation program.