If your loved one requires transitional rehabilitative care after an operation or injury, before being able to return home, your choice of a facility can make all the difference in the speed and overall success of his recovery. The recovery process for an elderly person riddled with a variety of other health issues is very different than that of a relatively healthy person simply recovering from an isolated incident. Here are just a few things to keep in mind when making your decision.
Is Rehab the Facility’s Specialty?
Not everywhere that offers rehabilitation services necessarily specializes in providing that type of care. Some may be standard nursing homes that perform this service. What sort of specialists are on staff? Examples include speech therapists, physical therapist and occupational therapists. Are there care managers that specifically oversee the treatment process? You want a team of people working together, and formulating, an effective treatment regimen.
How Many Patients Go Home after Receiving Care?
When choosing a rehabilitation center for the elderly, you want to get some numbers regarding how many people are able to return home after their rehabilitation program. How many end up transitioning to a nursing home or long-term care facility? These numbers will give you a better sense of which center can return your loved one to the highest level of functioning possible. Now, it is important to keep realistic expectations in mind as well given the nature of your loved one’s condition.
Qualifications and Credentials
What sort of training does the staff have? Check the facility has accreditation by the Joint Commission or the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Is there a continuum of care from the time your loved one enters to the time they leave? There will be various levels of care needed between these two points, and you want to make sure the facility offers it properly. Will there be any sort of outpatient therapy or in-home physical therapy required?
Experience with Your Loved One’s Condition
There are many reasons an elderly person would need rehabilitation—there are many types of conditions, procedures, and injuries, from brain injury to a stroke. When choosing the facility, it is paramount you find out the type of experience they have in treating this particular condition. This will make all the difference in the world regarding recovery. Specialists will have a greater sensitivity to your loved one’s needs, and ample experience will make for the widest range of creative treatments. When inquiring about length of stay, recovery and other matters, make sure you get some specifics regarding patients who were being treated for a similar situation.
Other Considerations
How much time will your loved one spend in therapy each day? Do some research on recommended amounts for this condition and make sure the center matches that. What does your loved one need to bring? What is he allowed to bring? How can the family get involved in the process? How often can you visit and how long are you allowed to stay? Take a good look around the entire facility to get an idea of the lifestyle quality.