Table of Contents
Rehabilitation centers are important in the recovery process for seniors after an accident. They can help our seniors regain their strength and independence.
However, finding the right rehabilitation center for your loved one can be challenging. There are many factors to consider, such as location, cost, and type of care offered.
Here are some tips to help you find the right rehabilitation center for your senior loved one.
A senior rehabilitation center is a public or private facility providing therapy to older adults.
These facilities are intended to assist those recovering from an injury or severe medical conditions.
Rehabilitation centers offer specialized therapies like occupational, speech, and physical rehabilitation.
Occupational therapy allows seniors to participate in activities of daily living (ADLs). They may help patients regain their grip strength.
Therapists can teach seniors to develop the coordination needed to feed themselves. This type of therapy is crucial for seniors recovering from an injury, illness, or stroke.
On the other hand, speech or language rehabilitation helps elders with speech problems or swallowing difficulty.
Older adults with learning disabilities or other medical conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia, may also benefit from speech therapy.
This type of therapy is recommended for those who have issues with speaking, communication, or swallowing disorders.
Speech therapists teach safe techniques to reduce the risk of choking while drinking or eating.
Physical Therapy rehabilitation centers help seniors with improving mobility, strength, and balance.
Therapy is usually prescribed after a severe injury or joint replacement. It can also help with chronic pain from conditions like arthritis and sciatica.
Physical therapists can also assist patients recovering from sports-related injuries or accidental falls.
They teach and train people how to use devices like walkers and canes. And they help manage chronic illnesses like heart disease.
Physical rehabilitation for seniors revolves around balance training, muscle re-education, and strengthening exercises.
It includes gait training so that older adults can learn how to navigate assistive devices like walkers or canes properly to normalize their gait pattern.
A rehabilitation center for seniors aims to maximize their quality of life and function.
And the type and need for services would depend on what kind of injury older adults have or how serious it is.
This type of rehabilitation provides intensive care that generally includes occupational, physical, and speech therapy five days per week.
Senior rehab centers may offer inpatient and outpatient services. Some elderly need inpatient rehab if they need continuous monitoring or around-the-clock care.
Inpatient rehab would require those elderly recovering from major surgery, debilitating condition, or severe injury to stay at the facility for an extended period.
If the condition severely affects activities of daily living, like getting dressed, showering, or using the bathroom, occupational therapy will be needed.
Physical therapy may be more appropriate if the injury or condition results in pain.
PT is also recommended if seniors have difficulty in bed mobility, balance, and walking.
Physical therapy services can be an excellent non-surgical choice for pain management. They help lower the severity and frequency of pain in various ways.
Usually PT and OT services work together to improve the overall independence and functional mobility of this population.
Some facilities also offer dietary recommendations by dietitians or other services like counseling if needed.
For the people who are able to return home safely, outpatient senior rehab is a better option.
In this setting, older adults live at home and go to rehab centers to attend their therapy sessions.
Home safety is very important after an injury to prevent further injury or complications.
A home assessment by a CAPS (certified aging in place specialist) professional is a great way to insure your home is as safe as possible. Email me if you are interested in a home assessment for your loved one.
A fractured or broken hip is one of the most debilitating injuries a senior can experience and usually occurs in or around the home.
Three hundred thousand individuals who are 65 years and older are hospitalized for hip fractures annually. Unfortunately, women are more vulnerable to hip fractures compared to men.
Women are also more prone to osteoporosis, a condition where there is bone weakness causing them to break easily.
In cases like these, physical rehabilitation can assist in increasing bone health to strengthen the bones.
Therapists can also recommend exercises to increase balance and stability and manage pain.
Rehabilitation centers can help seniors reduce their burdens as they go through the recovery process.
They provide intensive treatment programs in one location where meals are provided and nursing care is available.
It can be dangerous and challenging to get into and out of a car following an injury. So while the ultimate goals is to get back home safely, initially it may be best to go somewhere for short term rehab.
Senior rehab centers also have professional teams that provide comprehensive care. They're specially trained in occupational, physical, or speech therapy.
And there is also additional medical staff available who can provide treatments.
This helps patients to be treated with utmost care and equipped with the motivation to recover faster.
Inpatient therapy patients have a carefully planned day with tight monitoring from the team.
This time in rehab is used to address any concerns that have arisen because of the injury or operation.
After all the objective to get your loved one back healthy and safe to transition home in a timely fashion.
Patients eat three meals a day, participate in social events and activities that fit around therapy sessions.
What’s the cost of getting the services of rehabilitation centers and therapists?
Unfortunately every facility is different. Also the amount of care required changes for each person based on injury, accident and other comorbidities that will effect the outcome.
Many of the costs associated with rehab centers will change based on specific insurance.
Traditional medicare vs. managed medicare plans will have different coverages and different out of pocket costs associated with a stay in short term rehab.
The rehab center should be able to let you know what kind of expenses to expect based on the specific insurance provider.
There are many senior rehab centers that take place in various settings. The recommended next step following a hospital stay will be determined by the doctors and allied health team in the hospital.
The therapists will usually make a recommendation on if the patient is safe to return home, or if a stay in a rehab center will be needed.
The social worker and team will try to find an available bed in the appropriate setting and the doctor would then write discharge orders.
For example, if it is determined that the patient needs intensive therapy for 3 hours/day and daily supervision by a physician, an inpatient rehab hospital or unit would be the best fit.
If the patient needed therapy and 24 hour nursing support, a stay in a sub acute portion of a skilled nursing facility may be required.
There are other options such as "swing bed" units that would be a better fit at times.
Once the recommended setting and facility are determined, is to take time to check out the center itself.
Ask to see an available patient room and common areas to see how clean, comfortable, and private it is.
Check the food menus to see what kind of food residents eat every day. There should be a variety of healthy choices.
Look for the availability of specialized staff who can meet the specific needs of your loved one.
Inquire about a personalized care plan and recommended services.
The staff should be able to provide information about the recovery process and therapy, and rehabilitation.
Here are some resources that can help you find the best senior rehab centers near you:
Finding the right rehabilitation centers for your loved one can be challenging.
To make sure you’re getting the right fit, ask questions during each part of the process.
You can get recommendations from your doctor or even do some research for feedback online.
What’s important is you get the right rehabilitation centers and care for your loved one.
That's all for today.
Take care, keep mom safe and have a great day!
Winn
I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy and have been working with the 70+ age group for over a decade. I will share my knowledge and experience to give you ideas to care for your aging parents. Read more >>