The Advantage of Having Rehabilitation Care Close to Home

Posted on

Jul 27, 2015

Book/Edition

Connecticut - Southern Connecticut

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When its time to leave the hospital following illness, injury or surgery, youll need specialized care to regain your strength and mobility. If these services arent readily accessible and convenient to your home, youll have to search for qualified care, and contend with travel to and from the rehab center for days or weeks, possibly in inclement weather. Family members wishing to be involved in your care may also find these logistics challenging. People who live in a retirement community offering on-site rehabilitation services have a much easier time transitioning from hospital to home.

Short-term nursing and rehab services, right where you live:
When you choose to live in a continuing care retirement community, youll enjoy an independent retirement lifestyle filled with cultural, educational and recreational opportunities. Some offer on-site rehabilitation services. So if the need for short-term rehab care should arise, or if you plan to have surgery at a specific time, you can dovetail these services to maximize your comfort and convenience, and improve the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Rehab services at a good retirement community should be led by a Medical Director who is also a medical doctor. At a minimum, the program should include physical, occupational and speech therapies. The rehab team should monitor your progress and adjust your care plan as needed. The best service providers will meet with you ahead of time, review your clinical information, lead the admissions process, and guide you every step of the way. They should consult with your family and personal physicians as well. The staff might include:

Medical Director
Director of Nursing
Registered Nurses
Licensed Practical Nurses
Dietician
Social Worker
Therapeutic Recreation Director
Licensed Speech, Occupational and Rehabilitation Therapists

Additional considerations:
Look for staffing ratios that exceed state and national standards. Inquire about the centers capacity to handle clinically complex therapies, such as post-surgery recovery, cardiac/pulmonary rehab, or joint replacement rehabilitation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have a 5-star rating system. Ask about this and any other ratings your prospective rehabilitation center has earned. You should also ask whether therapy is available seven days a week, and if the center accepts direct admission or requires an entrance fee.

Finding the right community that offers these high-caliber rehabilitation services on site can make living in retirement not only more enjoyable, but more convenient as well.

This article was submitted by an affiliate of The Health Center at Meadow Ridge, 100 Redding Road Redding, CT.
For information, call 1.866.780.0312 or visit MeadowRidge.com.

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