Do I choose short-term rehab, or will home health come up when you or your loved one is released from the hospital? You may not be prepared for the question, but it is a question that you need to think about long and hard because this can affect not only you but the person you are taking care of.
Today, we are going to go over the benefits of both short-term rehab and home health so you can be prepared for the next step of getting better.
What is Home Health?
Home health refers to healthcare services and medical care provided to individuals in their own homes. It involves a range of healthcare professionals, such as nurses, therapists, aides, and other trained medical professionals, who deliver medical services to patients in the comfort of their homes. Home health services are designed to help individuals recover from illness, injury, or surgery, manage chronic conditions, or receive necessary medical care without being hospitalized or residing in a long-term care facility.
Here are some key aspects of home health:
Healthcare Services at Home: Home health services encompass a variety of healthcare needs, including nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care, medication management, monitoring vital signs, and managing medical equipment.
Tailored Care Plans: Healthcare professionals create individualized care plans based on the patient’s specific needs, medical condition, and physician recommendations. These plans outline the services, frequency of visits, and goals for recovery or improvement.
Patient Population: Home health services are typically provided to individuals who have difficulty leaving their homes due to illness, disability, or advanced age. Common recipients of home health care include the elderly, those recovering from surgery, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those with mobility challenges.
Coordination with Healthcare Team: Home health providers work closely with a patient’s healthcare team, including primary care physicians and specialists, to ensure continuity of care and appropriate treatment. Communication and collaboration are vital for delivering effective care.
Improving Independence and Quality of Life: Home health care aims to enhance the patient’s independence and quality of life by enabling them to receive necessary medical care while remaining in a familiar and comfortable environment.
Family Involvement: Family members often play a crucial role in assisting with care, administering medications, and supporting the patient’s overall well-being. Home health services may also involve educating family members on how to care for the patient effectively.
Cost-Effective Alternative: Home health care can be a cost-effective alternative to hospitalization or institutional care, as it reduces the need for extended hospital stays and associated expenses.
Overall, home health services aim to provide personalized, high-quality healthcare to patients in their homes, promoting their recovery, comfort, and overall health and well-being.
What is Short-Term Rehab?
Short-term rehabilitation, often referred to as short-term rehab, is a specialized and intensive program that provides rehabilitative care and therapy to individuals recovering from an injury, surgery, illness, or medical event. The primary goal of short-term rehab is to help individuals regain their independence, mobility, and functional abilities to the highest extent possible, enabling a smooth transition back to their regular daily activities and living situation.
Key features of short-term rehab include:
Focused Rehabilitation: Short-term rehab is designed to address specific rehabilitative needs, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. The rehabilitation program is tailored to the individual’s condition and requirements.
Limited Duration: As the name suggests, short-term rehab programs are intended for a relatively brief period, typically ranging from a few days to a few weeks. The duration depends on the severity of the individual’s condition and the expected progress in their rehabilitation.
Post-Surgery Recovery: Short-term rehab is often prescribed for individuals recovering from surgeries like joint replacements, orthopedic procedures, cardiac surgery, or other surgical interventions. It helps them regain strength, mobility, and functionality post-surgery.
Rehabilitation Facilities: Short-term rehab is typically offered in specialized rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, or certain units within hospitals. These settings are equipped with the necessary resources and equipment to support the rehabilitation process.
Therapeutic Interventions: Patients in short-term rehab receive structured therapy sessions to improve mobility, balance, muscle strength, coordination, and other essential skills. The therapies are tailored to the individual’s specific needs and goals for recovery.
Assistance with Daily Activities: Short-term rehab often includes training and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting, to help patients regain independence and self-sufficiency.
Preparation for Home Transition: During short-term rehab, individuals and their families receive education and training on managing the individual’s condition at home, ensuring a safe and smooth transition back to their home environment.
Overall, short-term rehab aims to facilitate a successful recovery, improve the individual’s functional abilities, and enhance their overall quality of life following an injury, surgery, or medical event.
When Should I Choose Short-Term Rehab Over Home Health?
Many people ask when I should choose short-term rehab over home health. I recently faced this question with my mother. When writing this post, my mother currently has a non-weight bearing on her left foot. She just had a Transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) surgery due to poor blood flow in her foot. She had gangrene, which is scary.
However, after her transmetatarsal amputation, it was time to come home a few days later. I had to make the choice to either put her in rehab or take her home and do home health.
Well initially, I chose home health with the information I was given from the medical staff. However, when she got to my home, I found that I was not equipped with all the necessary equipment or had enough time to care for someone who needed my full assistance.
This is where short-term rehab is the better option. At short-term rehab, they have the equipment, time, and resources to give her the assistance I could not. They are there for people who need more assistance and care.
When Should I Choose Home Health over Short-Term Rehab?
Using this situation with my mom, I would have chosen home health if she could transfer or put weight on her one leg and safely go to the bathroom alone. Then, having a home health aide come by to do wound care and vitals would be good enough for me because it is not taking away from my day.
While home health is excellent, you must understand they come out for an hour or so a few times a week. This won’t be a relief to many caregivers. You will still have to do everything you’re doing day in and day out.
Most home health aides are nurses unless the orders are put in for physical therapy. The aides job is to take vitals, to do wound care, and whatever orders the doctor gives them. Typically it is minimal. So, if you need someone to help clean, bathe, dress, and cook for the patient, your best option is not to use home health and go straight to a short-term rehab.
Home health is the right option for you if you only need someone to take some vitals, help with wound care, and a bit of physical therapy.
Overall Do What is Best for You
Now that you know more about home health and short-term rehab, it’s time to decide what is best for your situation. While this can be hard, by using the information about you can decide what is best. Sometimes you may not be equipped to take care of someone 24/7 and even with home health it doesn’t give you any relief. The person should definitely go to a short-term rehab place. While on the other hand, a person may only need help doing minor things and it’s not going to be a 24/7 position, then you should choose short-term rehab.
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