When a medical crisis upends our lives, most of us just want to get back to normal – and back home – as soon as possible. But, after an illness, injury or major surgery, there is a transition period – a gap – between the hospital stay and “normal.” Most people need help bridging that gap, either with in-home care or in a short-term rehabilitation facility. A doctor’s recommendation is often the deciding factor in choosing between in-home or inpatient post-hospital care. But patients and their caregivers can have a say in discharge planning, as well. If you or a loved one is facing a decision about in-home or inpatient recovery, here are some things to consider.
What Does In-home Recovery Look Like?
Although much depends on the patient’s condition when they leave the hospital, people who choose to recover in their homes may need:
- Help with regular daily activities like dressing, bathing and food preparation
- Transportation to follow-up medical appointments and outpatient rehabilitation appointments
- A visiting health care aide to assist with wound care, give injections, monitor vital signs or demonstrate rehabilitation exercises
- Special equipment, like walkers, shower chairs, a commode or oxygen tank
- Home modifications, such as grab bars installed in the bathroom or a ramp installed in the home’s entry
The advantage of recovering at home is obvious: A familiar setting and familiar faces are comforting. But a successful recovery at home often depends on having a strong support system made up of family and friends who have the time and capacity to help. Even with the willing assistance of loved ones, patients who recover at home often feel isolated and lonely. And without peer support and daily encouragement from a rehabilitation therapist, they may lose motivation to keep up with the exercises that help speed recovery.
What Happens in a Short-term Rehabilitation Facility?
A short-term rehabilitation facility is a way station on the path to recovery. It provides a more homelike setting than a noisy, impersonal hospital, but with on-site medical staff so patients have access to the therapeutic services and full-time medical care they need for recovery. Patients in short-term rehab can typically expect:
- On-site access to the rehabilitation therapies they need
- Assistance with daily activities like dressing, grooming and medication management
- A supportive and homey environment that’s equipped with everything they need for recovery
- Amenities and conveniences like room service, housekeeping and a front desk concierge that make their stay more comfortable
- A quick response to any setbacks or medical emergencies that may arise
- Transportation to follow-up medical appointments
As You Consider Your Options
As you consider the options for post-hospital recovery, it’s important to be realistic about the care that may be required. Here are some questions to ask during discharge planning to help you get a clear understanding of what successful recovery will require:
- How long is recovery expected to take?
- Will round-the-clock care be required?
- Will there be mobility issues?
- Will special medical equipment be necessary?
- Will help with activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing and meal preparation be required?
- Are rehabilitation therapies part of the recovery process? If so, how many rehabilitation appointments will there be?
- Will professional in-home care be needed?
- Would home modifications be necessary for successful in-home recuperation?
- Are special supplies like adult diapers or skin care items needed?
- How many medications will be prescribed?
- Will help be required managing medications?
- What symptoms might indicate a setback or medical emergency?
Short-term Rehabilitation at Friendship Village
If you’re weighing post-hospital recovery options, the Short-term Residency and Rehabilitation program at Friendship Village may offer an ideal solution. Patients can settle into a lovely recovery suite, and family members can relax, knowing their loved one has access to top-ranked care. Rehabilitation therapies, medical care, and compassionate assistance in a homelike setting support recovery and the longed-for return to normal. Contact us to find out more.