ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and effectiveness of community-based rehabilitation for patients with cerebral infarction. MethodThe cerebral infarction patients (n=285) registered before March 2011 and newly involved in the research between March 2011 and September 2012 were randomly divided into rehabilitation group (n=142) and control group (n=143). The doctors in community hospitals were trained by specialist physicians in Neurology Department and Rehabilitation Department from second-grade hospitals. Community physicians were responsible for the patients' rehabilitation for one year. ResultsNo differences between the rehabilitation group and the control group in the time of enrollment situation (P>0.05). After six months of intervention, there were significant differences between the two groups of patients in neurological function, daily activity ability, anxiety and depression scale scores (P<0.05), and the difference was more significant after 12 months (P<0.01). The results of Kubota drinking experiment were significantly different between the two groups after six months of intervention (P<0.05). ConclusionsCommunity-based rehabilitation treatment can significantly reduce the degree of physical and mental disability. The cooperation between second-grade hospitals and community hospitals is an effective way to realize three-stage neurological rehabilitation, which can better improve patients' quality of life and is helpful for them return to the society.