Rehab for Seniors 101

It seems like rehab is necessary whenever an older person goes into the hospital.  My mother had two stays in rehab plus I dealt with a number of other seniors who found themselves in rehab.  Let me tell you, there are vast differences in the way rehab is handled.

There is acute rehab and sub acute rehab.  The major difference is in the amount of rehab offered on a daily basis.  Acute rehab is generally 3 hours per day while sub acute is less (often half as much).  The therapy is divided into Physical, Occupational and Speech.   Rehab is generally provided in a rehab hospital (or rehab section within a hospital) or in a Skilled Nursing Facility (Nursing Home).  While a Skilled Nursing Facility can in many cases provide acute rehab, they generally are geared towards sub acute rehab. 

Rehab in a hospital environment is generally for those people who have had surgery or a stroke.  These situations require a higher level of medical care and more intense therapy so the facility will have a doctor monitoring the patient on a daily basis along with the rehab therapists.  When a senior citizen goes into a hospital for other than these two issues, they may need rehab to get their strength or balance back.   In this case, a Skilled Nursing Facility is the best solution.  There are a lot of insurance rules that come into play as well and so the Case Manager at the hospital will let you know which type of facility is appropriate.

Medicare or Medicaid generally allow up to 100 days of rehab treatment provided the patient continues to show progress.  If they plateau (no further progress), they will have to be discharged from the rehab facility.   If they are in a hospital environment receiving rehab, there is additional criteria imposed relative to the higher level of medical treatment.  If the need for medical treatment declines, they will probably be transferred to a Skilled Nursing Facility to continue treatment.

There's a lot more to say about rehab and in future posts you will hear about what to look for in a facility and how to make sure your loved one receives the best care.