Here are some advantages of an inpatient setting for your loved one
Getting regular physical therapy is an important part of the healing process. A patient needs therapy as soon as possible for the best results after suffering a stroke, severe spine injury, orthopedic injury or other condition. This helps your loved one regain or relearn abilities (that’s why it is called rehabilitation or rehab for short).
A patient who can’t wait to leave the hospital may be tempted to return home and visit an outpatient facility for therapy. But this may not be ideal for their long-term improvement. Moving to an inpatient or care community setting for their rehabilitation may make better sense – and produce better results – for both the patient and you as their caregiver.
Both inpatient and outpatient rehab centers can design a comprehensive treatment plan for patients. They all usually have rooms filled with exercise equipment, tools to aid agility and flexibility, and stations to help people relearn things like walking. Many also have swimming pools for therapy, too.
Concentrated treatment at a facility for patients is critical to learning to deal with or overcome any remaining physical limitations and regain strength and range of motion. This is often done more effectively in a comfortable inpatient setting.
The advantages to inpatient care are the level of attention to rehab and the focused time to get better. Typically, those in an inpatient setting spend more hours on rehab activities than those in an outpatient commuter approach over a comparable period. In a care community, your loved one has one thing to focus on – learning to regain their basic functions – with 24-hour support to do so.
Inpatient locations also provide meals and housekeeping, along with trained staff to monitor the healing process. Additionally, the patient can get help with daily activities like going to the bathroom and getting dressed. This benefits you as the caregiver by freeing you up from having to provide assistance with daily activities.
When trying to decide on the right post-hospital care for you or your loved one, look for places that offer the latest in successful equipment or techniques along with skilled nursing or support personnel. Also, you want a warm comfortable place that allows the person getting rehab to focus on their treatment. HCF Management, for example, offers homelike surroundings with person-centered care and intensive rehab.
Getting better is emotionally and physically draining for patients and those who love and support them. Caregivers should weigh the patient’s desire to be home with the desire to get better. Ultimately, the top concern should be where the patient can make the most progress in a short period of time, which is usually an inpatient setting.