Benefits of Short-Term Physical Rehab

After a major, possibly life-threatening medical issue, a doctor may recommend short-term rehabilitation services following your hospital stay. These recommendations, ranging from physical and occupational therapy to nursing care, can be completed in dedicated rehabilitation centers, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or at home.

The purpose in all settings is to help an individual recovering from a stroke, neurological issue, surgery or joint replacement regain certain skills, heal and be independent. Short-term rehabilitation centers are often the most intensive, with professionals on-hand to address a patient’s specific needs. As you make this choice for your loved one, think about the following.

Customized & Comprehensive Treatment

Especially for elderly patients, it’s rarely recommended you return home after a major surgical procedure, as your body takes longer to heal and regain strength. In the case of strokes and neurological incidents, key skills may be lost and a patient must relearn how to dress, bathe and communicate.

With these factors in mind, no rehab plan is one-size-fits-all. Short-term rehabilitation centers develop individualized treatment plans and daily sessions with multiple specialists. All work together toward a common goal: To help patients gain maximum functionality and independence before returning home.

A Wider Range of Programs

Dedicated rehabilitation centers tend to offer all programs in a single location, where you or your loved one stays for a specified period. With the goals of recovery and independence, programs generally encompass speech, physical and occupational therapy, but may also include other methods.

Getting You to Return Home

The goal of any short-term rehabilitation program is getting you to back to your life. This outlook shapes your sessions, which are geared toward gaining the strength and abilities needed to carry out everyday tasks and, if possible, live on your own with minimal assistance.

Patients who go through a short-term rehabilitation program tend to recover in less time and have better outcomes, compared to individuals receiving in-home care or long-term care at a nursing home.

More Comfortable Than a Hospital

After spending days to weeks in a hospital setting, you’re ready to leave the sterile environment and return to the comforts of home. Unfortunately, not resting fully could disrupt the healing process.

Short-term rehabilitation facilities act as an intermediary. The environment tends to be more comfortable than a traditional hospital setting and you’ll have the chance to be around other individuals in communal spaces and therapy groups. At the same, the facility’s professionals take care of several everyday tasks, including meal prep and hygiene. You’ll also have access to your own clothing and can bring along a few personal items for enjoyment.

Medicare May Cover Your Stay

For many patients, navigating Medicare and Medicaid comes with several challenges. Which programs cover which services and how long can you stay without out-of-pocket expenses?

Medicare covers short-term rehabilitation under certain conditions. One, the facility must be Medicare certified and two, you must have spent at least three nights there within a 30-day period. The third factor requires a doctor to provide a referral or recommendation to a short-term rehabilitation facility.

Once your care plan meets all factors, Medicare will cover up to 100 days at a short-term rehabilitation center, with the goal of patient improvement. If you reach the 100-day mark or if a treatment plan isn’t working, Medicare will halt its reimbursement. To seek further treatment, you must wait at least 60 days after discharge and do another three-day stint for Medicare to cover another 100-day stay.
 
In search of a short-term rehabilitation facility for yourself or a loved one? Contact West Hartford Health & Rehabilitation Center today to learn about our programs and services.