Older adults recovering from a serious illness or injury like a fall, a stroke, or a surgical procedure like heart surgery or joint replacement, may need temporary care in a rehabilitation facility. An experience of this kind can serve a dual purpose. Along with receiving the necessary care to recover from their injury or illness, a stay in a rehabilitation center can be a great introduction to life at a continuing care retirement community, also known as a CCRC.
While recovering under the expert supervision with a robust wellness program in a skilled nursing facility, you can also learn how appealing a retirement community can be for older adults.
Read on to learn about the different types of rehabilitation services that are typically used by seniors, and how you can use this experience to introduce you to a retirement community.
Rehabilitation Service Options
If total independence isn’t immediately possible after a hospital stay and receiving health care at home from a medical professional is too expensive, most people receive one of the two following services:
- Outpatient Rehabilitation
A person receiving outpatient care will regularly visit a doctor’s office or rehabilitation facility for a period of time. These facilities often have specialized equipment and allow for safety measures and supervision. For this option, the patient must be mobile and have the means to travel to the facility.
- Inpatient Rehabilitation
When a patient’s condition requires them to receive continual monitoring after a hospital stay, they are moved to an extended-stay health care center. There, they’ll receive daily scheduled rehabilitation with skilled supervision and be regularly visited by a doctor.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Rehab Facility
You need to know what to expect before engaging in rehabilitation services. Here are a few questions to get answered before you choose a facility.
- Is my insurance accepted, and do I need to be pre-certified to ensure coverage?
- What specialized care do you offer? (Wound care, cardiovascular, orthopedic, etc.)
- How much therapy will I receive? Will it be in-patient or outpatient?
- Who determines the care plan?
- Who will be on my treatment team? (nurses, physician, social worker, occupational therapist, chaplain, etc.)
- What items should I bring with me, and what items will be provided at no extra charge?
- If care is in-patient, will I have a private or semi-private room?
- What is the staffing ration of qualified nurses/therapists to patients?
- Is there a patient care coordinator?
- What happens after discharge?
Questions to Ask Before Getting Discharged
Rehab patients often need additional services after they’re sent home. Be sure you know what the plan is before leaving. Here are some questions to ask:
- What’s the prognosis?
- What should I expect as I continue to recover?
- Are there warning signs I should look for?
- Will there be at-home visits from therapists or nurses, or will I come in for additional outpatient treatment?
- Will I need assistive devices, such as a cane, walker, wheelchair, etc.?
- What other supplies do I need – and where can I get them?
- Will an occupational therapist do a home assessment and make recommendations for adapting my environment so I can be at home safely?
- What will my insurance cover for post-rehab care?
- Do I need to get rid of old medications – and how can I safely do so?
Rehabilitation Services at Beacon Hill
The caring and skilled team members at Beacon Hill Senior Rehabilitation Center are totally committed and specially trained to provide you with the very best rehabilitation services. We provide comprehensive solutions to all of your recovery needs. We have physicians and nurses on-site to manage your physical health. We have physical therapists to help you restore your independence. We have a psychiatrist and a social worker to help you with your emotional wellness. We have joint therapy, pain management, and more. We’re ready to help you get back to living your life again.
And while you’re here, you’ll have a chance to get to know our Life Care community, and discover if senior living is right for you.
To find out more about our rehabilitation services, fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page.
