Surgery, illnesses, falls—no matter why you end up in the hospital, there’s always a chance that the road to recovery will be much longer than anticipated. In many cases, patients may need weeks of hospital rehab to live independently again.
Recovering After Hospitalization Takes Time and Care
Many people—and older people especially—may require additional help adjusting to life at home after a hospitalization. A stay in the hospital may provide much-needed care, but it can also leave you feeling weak, disoriented, and without your usual range of motion or function. Hospital-induced delirium is very common, affecting 1 in 3 patients. It’s even more likely to affect seniors and can make transitioning back to independent life difficult.
Attempting to return to your everyday routines before you’re ready to be independent can have a catastrophic effect on your recovery. If you’re healing from a fall, you run the risk of falling again and suffering even worse injuries. If you’ve gotten over a severe illness, not taking the time to rest could extend your recovery process indefinitely. And some patients, such as those who have suffered a stroke, may not be able to live alone until they’ve practiced with daily tasks.
In these cases, most people still retain the ability and desire to live independently—they just need additional help temporarily while recovering. Those situations are an excellent fit for an in-home caregiver to help.
What is Post-Hospital Rehab?
Post-hospital rehabilitation, also known as reablement, can help people released from the hospital get back on their feet. This form of rehabilitation can assist with a number of issues that occur after a hospitalization:
- Recovering joint function and motion after an injury.
- Re-building muscle strength after an extended hospital stay.
- Assisting with daily tasks while recovery makes them difficult.
- Re-learning old habits to make independent living feasible.
- Monitoring for issues with recovery or healing.
- Emotional support during a challenging time.
The purpose of hospital rehab is not just to take over daily tasks you might struggle with as you recover. It’s also to assist you in getting back to a higher level of functioning so you can once again live more independently.
How Long Does Post-Hospital Rehab Take?
It’s difficult to say how long it will take for you to become independent after post-hospital rehab. Your doctor will likely estimate how long you’ll need to continue rehabilitation activities before you can recapture your previous functionality. However, post-hospital rehab can take as little as a couple of weeks or as long as six months or more. It all depends on your individual situation, which is why finding a personalized care plan is so important.
Are You a Good Candidate for Hospital Rehab Services?
If you’re currently in the hospital or have recently been released, the first step is gauging whether you can live independently without reducing your quality of life. If you can handle some routine tasks but struggle with others, an in-home caregiver’s hospital rehab services can bridge the gap.
An in-home caregiver can help you complete and gain confidence with the following tasks:
- Cooking nutritious meals.
- Keeping the house clean and free of safety hazards.
- Handling personal grooming such as bathing, dressing, and tooth brushing.
- Caring for pets or plants, which provide valuable emotional benefits to healing patients.
- Assisting with mobility to prevent falls.
Of course, this is only a cursory list of things an in-home caregiver can help with. The benefit of an in-home caregiver is that they can provide personalized and versatile support in whatever way you need. And if you aren’t able to perform the daily tasks to maintain your quality of life and rehabilitation of those skills isn’t an option, an in-home caregiver can still provide life-changing support.
In-Home Caregivers Help Rehab Patients Stay Independent
At Generations Home Care, we know that maintaining your independence is of the utmost importance. The vast majority of people want to remain in their homes as they age or recover from a hospital stay, and an in-home caregiver can help make that a reality. Sitting down to meet with an experienced caregiver, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your hospital rehab goals, the timeframe you expect to need care, and the specific tasks you anticipate needing help with.
An in-home caregiver can then work with you to create a custom care plan built around the amount and type of care you need. Our flexible scheduling options allow you to set the pace for your recovery and care. Perhaps most importantly, an in-home caregiver can be a close companion during a difficult time. You need a person you can trust and lean on while you work hard on your recovery—and an in-home caregiver can be the perfect partner.
About Generations Home Care
Generations Home Care personalized in-home care and support services help those recovering from illness, injury, or surgery, living with a chronic disease, or dealing with the natural process of aging. We help people live a fuller, healthier, and independent life.
Our caregivers are trained in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended COVID-19 safety precautions. We offer levels of care ranging from companionship, to respite for the primary family caregiver, to homemaking services, to assistance with activities of daily living, to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Generations Home Care takes a holistic approach and emphasizes a consistent, client-centered plan of care.
Our Specialty Services Include:
- Rehab or hospital-to-home programs for safe discharge.
- Short-term post-operative care during recovery periods.
- Non-medical life management services for people with chronic conditions.
- Veteran’s connection to care program.
- Live-in services and couples care.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today at 602-595-HOME (4663) or by filling out the contact form on our website.
