When your loved one experiences a downturn in their health, has an accident, or requires serious surgery, their doctor may recommend a rehabilitation program for quick healing. Short-term rehabilitation can make a big difference in health outcomes after a stroke, injury, or sudden debilitating illness. Here are five facts about acute rehab hospitals to help you understand what lies ahead.
1. Intensive
Acute rehab hospitals provide intensive care for severe injuries, accidents, surgeries, and medical issues. These facilities generally schedule your loved one for three to five hours of therapy sessions with skilled nurses and other medical professionals daily. The team of healthcare workers will ensure that your loved one gets the treatment they need to relearn essential bodily functions and regain independence.
2. Comprehensive
Hospitals or retirement homes that offer acute rehabilitation programs will provide a comprehensive range of care services for your loved one, addressing various aspects of recovery, including physical, cognitive, and well-being. Acute rehab goes beyond wound treatment and basic healthcare needs. Your loved one will receive the attention they need to get back to living a full and satisfying life.
3. Tailored Treatment
When your loved one takes up residence in an acute rehab facility, a team of medical professionals will design a tailored plan of care and treatment for them. Your loved one’s doctor will provide guidance and instructions to the facility, and a team of skilled nurses and occupational therapists will proceed with daily care for your loved one. The care plan for your loved one may change to fit their needs as they heal.
4. Diverse Team
Short-term rehabilitation facilities employ diverse medical professionals to help your loved one recover. Your loved one will have an attending nurse and may even receive regular visits from an on-call doctor, depending on the severity of the situation. Other healthcare workers, such as occupational, speech, and physical therapists, will arrive at their allotted times and spend one-on-one time with your loved one for dedicated recovery sessions.
5. Short-Term
It’s important to remember that acute rehab hospitals focus on intensive short-term healing. The goal is to help patients recover quickly and transition to their regular lives. Your loved one could spend around two weeks in a short-term rehabilitation facility before returning home, but this will depend on their progress and healing. After a stay in acute rehab, you and your loved one may decide that it’s time to move to assisted living. Many assisted living facilities offer long-term skilled nursing care for residents.
Following a two-week acute rehab program of three to five hours of therapy every day, your loved one may need to follow up with physical or cognitive therapy for a few more weeks. Some patients continue to require one to two hours of daily treatment to help them recover fully.
Discover Person-Centered Care
Facing a severe medical condition or accident is emotionally draining and physically taxing. You and your loved one deserve to experience person-centered care where your loved one’s dignity and independence are the top priorities. Schedule a visit to Mercy Retirement and Care Center to see how a holistic approach to short-term rehabilitation makes a difference.
