Three hours has been determined as the optimal initial time spent on rehab post-stroke per day, according to the hospital’s occupational therapist Candice Stewart.

This line in this story has got to be completely and totally wrong. 3 hours a day might get back some of the minimally damaged penumbra but will do nothing  for any major damage or dead areas. If the patient is not doing hands-on therapy with a therapist, even waking minute should be spent:
1. Listening to music.

Exploring a Neuroplasticity Model of Music Therapy

2. Watching action observation gifs and videos.

Plasticity and Response to Action Observation

3. Doing mental imagery.

New psychology research supporting stroke rehabilitation

KINESTHETIC IMAGERY TRAINING OF FORCEFUL MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS INCREASES BRAIN SIGNAL AND MUSCLE STRENGTH

 Patients should have no downtime except to sleep and with that they should be trained in lucid dreaming. There is no place for slackers in stroke recovery. Eating should be therapy, using your affected side. The foods you eat should be proven as stroke prevention. If you aren't working the hardest you have ever worked in your life you aren't going to recover to the best of your ability. Nothing your doctor or therapist does will magically make your recovery occur. ALL the work is for you to accomplish.

Caring for victims of stroke - Cold Lake, Alberta