How Can a Rehabilitation Hospital Help You and Your Family?

After a stroke, serious injury, or major illness, an older adult may be ready to leave the hospital but still need help getting out of bed, getting dressed, or communicating clearly. Families often have to make the next decision quickly. Ask the discharge team what the person needs to practice, what medical support they still need, and which rehabilitation setting can provide both. What Is an Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital?An inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities provides intensive therapy during a hospital stay. It may be appropriate for someone who needs coordinated rehabilitation, medical supervision, and nursing care. Physical therapy may address movement and balance. Occupational therapy helps people practice everyday tasks, while speech-language therapy can address needs such as communication. The care team evaluates whether the person is ready for an inpatient program and what therapies fit their goals.  Northern Colorado Rehabilitation HospitalPhone: 970-619-3400 Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital in Johnstown provides inpatient rehabilitation for people recovering from conditions such as stroke, orthopedic injuries, brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. The hospital describes 24-hour rehabilitation nursing and daily physician management. It offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Practicing for the Return HomeThe hospital has a therapy courtyard where patients can practice on surfaces and features such as ramps, stairs, and curbs as appropriate. If the person needs to cross gravel from the driveway to the front door or step up into the house, tell the therapy team early. The hospital also describes working with patients and families on discharge planning and providing written instructions for follow-up. It offers outpatient rehabilitation for people who need continued therapy without a hospital stay.  Why This Matters in JohnstownThe hospital is on Union Street near the I-25 and U.S. 34 interchange. If relatives are coming from different parts of Northern Colorado, decide who can attend a care-planning conversation or join caregiver training. If the patient will recover at a relatives home, describe that layout and explain who can help during the first few days.  How to Get Started1. Confirm the Referral and CoverageAsk the current care team why inpatient rehabilitation is recommended and who will send the referral. Call 970-619-3400 to ask what records the hospital needs and how to check availability. Confirm coverage and any authorization requirements with your insurer. 2. Share Two or Three Goals for HomeDescribe what the person wants or needs to do, such as getting from the bed to the bathroom or getting into a car. Ask how the team will measure progress and when a family caregiver can learn how to help.3. Clarify the First Week After DischargeBefore leaving, ask what equipment should be ready, who will schedule follow-up therapy, and whom to call if a service hasnt started. Keep the written instructions where everyone helping with recovery can find them. Related Seniors Blue Book Categories Skilled Nursing Home Health Physical Therapy

When a hospital stay ends, the next decision is often where to continue recovery. Someone may need help walking safely or getting dressed before going home. Another person may be ready to go home and return for scheduled therapy. The discharge team can help you identify which setting fits the persons needs and what support to arrange. What Rehabilitation Facilities ProvideShort-term rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility can combine nursing care and therapy during a stay. Outpatient rehabilitation offers scheduled therapy visits while the patient lives at home or in another setting. The right option depends on the care teams assessment, what the person can manage day to day, and the help available where theyll be staying. Frasier Rehabilitation at The Summit Care CenterPhone: 720-562-4473 Frasier offers therapy at its skilled nursing facility and on-site outpatient clinic in Boulder. Its published services include physical therapy for mobility, strength, and balance. Occupational therapy can address self-care and adaptive equipment. Speech therapy can address areas such as communication and cognition. Ask which services are available in the setting your care team recommends.  Questions About Admission and PaymentFrasier says The Summit Care Center accepts Medicare for qualifying rehabilitation and considers other insurance on a case-by-case basis. Ask Frasier about availability and whether it can meet the persons care needs. Check benefits and any authorization requirements with the insurer before transfer.  Why This Matters in BoulderIf the goal is to return to a Boulder home, tell the therapy team what that actually involves. Three steps from the driveway or a bathroom upstairs can change what someone needs to practice before discharge. For outpatient therapy on Thunderbird Drive, plan who will provide rides and help the patient get from the vehicle to the clinic. How to Get Started1. Ask for the Recommended SettingHave the discharge planner explain why a skilled nursing stay or outpatient therapy is recommended. Ask which clinical records or referral Frasier needs to review.2. Share Two or Three Goals for HomeTell the team what the person needs to do at home, such as getting in and out of bed or reaching the bathroom. Ask how progress will be measured and what training family members can receive before discharge. Related Seniors Blue Book Categories Skilled Nursing Home Health Physical Therapy

Im not a fan of the word decluttering, although it comes up a lot in my work as a professional organizer. The reason I dont like that term is because clutter has such a negative connotation, and sometimes when people hear the word decluttering, it makes them feel guilty that they have clutter in the first place. Is this clutter? is a question that my clients ask me a lot. I think there are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about what counts as clutter. Often, people are afraid that I will tell them that something important to them is clutter, or they need to get rid of something that is sentimental but doesnt seem to have practical value. But Im happy to say that this isnt the case! When I work with my clients, I take a different approach to decluttering than they might have seen on a TV show or read about in a book. Heres what I think is important for you to know about clutter and decluttering: There is no single item that is always clutter. Have you ever heard the expression, whether something is a weed or a flower depends on your perspective? Well, I think the same is true about clutter. Something that seems useless to one person could be extremely important to another. I think of clutter as anything in your space that doesnt provide you value (whether that value may be practical use, sentimental or financial value, or pleasure). Something that you dont have the time, energy, or space to properly take care of, no matter how much you want to, can also become clutter. Thats why its so important to evaluate what you think is important before you begin to address clutter in your home. Only you can decide what is clutter in your own space. Sentimental and decorative items arent necessarily clutter.Many of my clients struggle with decisions about whether to keep sentimental items. Sometimes we keep them out of feelings of guilt or obligation, and sometimes we feel guilty for holding onto items that we love but have no practical purpose.I personally love sentimental items, and as you can see on my bookshelf, I love to display them through my home. Seeing my favorite books, photos of loved ones, and little pieces of my history on a regular basis make me happy. I encourage my clients to keep, display, and properly preserve sentimental items that bring them joy, and let go of the ones that bring feelings of guilt or burden. The key to not allowing sentimental items to become clutter is to be selective about which items you keep, and to store or display them in a way that allows you to enjoy them. Things that are useful can still be clutter. But that could be useful! is one of the most common protests I hear when I encourage clients to let go of something theyre not using. And I understand that it can feel wasteful to let go of something that could be possibly used in the future. However, many of us hold onto potentially useful itemsthat we never actually use! And that ultimately leads to clutter in your home. If youre not going to use something, its ok to pass it along to someone who will. Clutter isnt always an eyesore, or even visible. Just because a home doesnt look messy doesnt mean it isnt cluttered. Going back to the definition of clutter, if something in your space isnt providing you value, no matter how neat or organized it looks, it is still clutter. Also, clutter sometimes isnt visible at all. Maybe you have commitments on your calendar that are sucking up time but dont provide you with value, or you have tons of files and photos on your photo that are just taking up space. Clutter can come in many forms, not just physical. Once you start thinking critically about the things you are giving time, space, and energy, you will be able to apply a decluttering mindset to all aspects of your life.  Dont start by decluttering, start by assessing. Instead of decluttering, I prefer to begin the organizing process by assessing. I help my clients take a look at their items in a non-judgemental way are these items helping them to achieve their goals, or are they just taking up space without providing enough value? If theyre happy with everything, we figure out how to make all of their items work in their space. But more often than not, clients realize they do have things in their space they want to let go of. If you need help thinking through the items you have in your space and deciding what to keep or let go of, Im here for you. Set up a time to chat with me so I can give you some guidance.