What are the Benefits of a Senior Rehabilitation Center?

When an older loved one is discharged from the hospital following a major illness, injury, or planned surgery like a hip or knee replacement, their doctor may recommend short-term skilled rehabilitation to help them fully recover.

It’s understandable if you have questions about successfully navigating the rehabilitation process. Read on to learn more about senior rehab and what to expect while your loved one is recovering.

What is short-term senior rehabilitation?

During rehabilitation, older adults receive therapy treatments and other care services to promote their full recovery. A stay in a short-term senior rehab center usually lasts anywhere from a few weeks to about a month.

Short-term rehab usually includes therapies such as:

Physical therapy, which helps older adults improve their strength, mobility, and flexibility following a fall, surgery, or injury. Physical therapy exercises are an effective way to alleviate pain and discomfort in the recovery process. In physical therapy, older adults also learn techniques to help prevent another fall or injury.

Occupational therapy is used to help older adults recovering from an illness or injury learn exercises and techniques that make everyday living tasks much easier. Practicing skills such as loading the dishwasher, doing laundry, or preparing to cook in occupational therapy can help older adults regain confidence and get back to their highest level of independence.

Speech therapy helps older adults dealing with conditions that impact their communication, swallowing, and cognitive skills such as brain injury, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease.

Depending on your loved one’s needs, their rehabilitation may also include skilled nursing services such as wound care, medication management, and IV treatments.

What are the benefits of senior rehabilitation?

The goal of senior rehabilitation is to help older adults heal, recover, and get back to doing what they love. Beyond the obvious physical health benefits, participating in rehabilitation can also provide mental and emotional health benefits, such as:

Restored self-confidence — It’s common for anyone to lose confidence when faced with health issues. As older adults make progress and reach their goals in rehab, it will help them restore their confidence and stay motivated to keep going.
Reduced stress — Recovering from a serious illness or injury can be stressful. The therapists and skilled caregivers in senior rehabilitation understand how to help older adults stay positive and focus on their recovery.
Enhanced quality of life — Ultimately, active participation in rehabilitation helps older adults return to their highest level of function and continue living their best life.

Can you choose a senior rehab center?

Your loved one’s doctor may suggest going to a certain rehab center, but you’re not required to use that facility. You’re free to choose where you want to complete the rehab. Some families prefer at-home care, so their loved ones can receive therapy and other care services in the comfort of home.

Sometimes, older adults need support that can’t be provided at home. In this case, a good option is to stay in a senior rehabilitation center that’s part of a larger retirement community.

The Bethany Rehabilitation Center is a state-of-the-art therapy facility located on the beautiful Bethany Village campus. Our expert team is made up of over 30 dedicated care professionals, including nurses, therapists, social workers, dieticians, a life enrichment coordinator, and a chaplain. Together, they provide the full spectrum of care, focusing on healing in mind, body, and spirit.

Your loved one will receive rehabilitative services that are tailored to their needs in a relaxing, peaceful setting. Therapy is offered six days a week in our expansive gym, which offers the most advanced rehabilitation equipment. When they’re not receiving treatment, your loved one can enjoy chef-prepared meals, participate in enriching activities, or relax in their private room. A nurse case manager will oversee all details of your loved one’s recovery, including support for their return home.

Learn more about the Bethany Rehabilitation Center

A physician’s order is needed to treat in the Bethany Rehabilitation Center, but we always welcome inquiries, and visits can be arranged for those interested in learning more. Please contact us to get more information or set up a visit.

After being discharged from the hospital due to an illness, injury, or surgery such as a hip or knee replacement, many older adults need to stay in a short-term inpatient rehabilitation center to continue their therapy treatment. Spending time in a short-term senior rehab facility allows older adults to receive round-the-clock care, treatment, and support so they can return home safely.

However, when the short-term rehab stay comes to an end, the prospect of transitioning back home can be overwhelming for rehab patients—and their family members. If your parent is discharged from a senior rehab center, it’s natural to feel uncertainty about the changes ahead and how you will adjust to them. But with some planning, preparation, and patience, you can help your parent or loved one successfully transition home and continue their recovery journey with less stress.

Here are some tips to remember when helping a loved one transition home from short-term senior rehab:

Prepare early

Planning for the transition home from short-term rehab should start well in advance of your parent’s intended discharge date. Luckily, you’re not alone in this process. The professional staff at the senior rehab center will help you understand your parent’s needs and what to expect. For example, at the Bethany Rehabilitation Center (BRC), discharge planning begins from the moment of admission. Right from the start, our social services team will meet with your family to discuss your parent’s needs and goals. By the time your parent is ready to return home, our team will ensure all your questions are answered, so the transition is smooth and seamless.

Think about home modifications

Whether your parent is returning to their home or moving into another relative’s home after their short-term rehab stay, it’s important that their living environment is as safe and accessible as possible. Pay attention to safety concerns such as proper lighting, loose area rugs, carpeted stairs, furniture arrangement, and handrail stability. Is the shower and bathroom area accessible? The addition of grab bars or a shower chair can make a big difference for your parent’s safety. Before your parent is discharged, ask the senior rehab staff about any specific recommendations they have to make their home environment more safe and comfortable.

Set recovery goals

During their short-term rehab stay, your parent may receive therapy treatment from physical, occupational, and speech therapists. Before discharge, these therapy experts set realistic short and long-term recovery goals for your parent and outline a daily routine of exercises they should continue, whether on their own or with assistance. Once they return home, help your parent stay focused on their goals. A little motivation and encouragement can go a long way in preventing the risk of returning to the hospital again.

Line up support systems

Helping a parent or loved one recover from a major illness or injury isn’t easy, but luckily, you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s reaching out to other family members or taking advantage of local community resources and at-home health providers. The senior rehab facility staff will connect you to trusted resources to help your parent recover safely and happily at home.

Stay positive

Rehabilitation is difficult at any age, but it may be particularly stressful for older adults. Encouraging your parent or loved one to maintain a positive attitude before, during, and after their short-term rehab stay may help to speed up the recovery process and prevent return visits to the hospital or rehab center. Even short visits or phone calls can lift your parent’s spirits and increase their confidence in their own recovery.

Finally, if you are the primary caregiver for your parent, one of the best things you can do is to take care of yourself. Prioritize your own health and wellness, and take a break if you need to. Remember, it’s okay to have extra assistance when caring for your loved one, especially if they are facing significant mobility loss and other lifestyle changes. From meal delivery to transportation services to at-home health providers, there are many resources that can make the recovery process easier for you and your loved one.