Where to Recover After a Hospital Stay

After a stay in the hospital, achieving full recovery and a smooth transition back to daily living depends on choosing the right recovery care option. This important decision involves several factors, such as your personal preferences, the level of medical care you need and the resources available to you. Let’s look at three primary after-hospital care options:  

• Short-term rehab facilities 

• Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) 

• At-home recovery 

Unique benefits and considerations are part of each option, so taking the time to understand each of these will help you or your loved ones make an informed decision that’s best for you. 

Short-Term Rehab After a Hospital Stay

Some patients come out of the hospital in need of a short period of intensive therapy and associated medical care before they’re ready to return home. Short-term rehab facilities focus on helping patients who require rehabilitation services but are not candidates for long-term care. Patients choose a rehab facility after surgery to help them quickly recover from medical or surgical conditions before returning home.  

Some hospitalizations that may lead to short-term rehab following hospital discharge include:  

• Amputations. 

• Heart surgeries. 

• Joint replacement surgeries. 

• Spinal surgeries. 

• Stroke. 

Any procedures that may require physical or occupational therapy may lead to a recommendation for short-term rehab after a hospital stay. The services offered in these centers, such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, are aimed at facilitating a return to normal activities as rapidly as possible. 

Benefits of Short-Term Rehab Centers

Short-term rehab centers offer some specific benefits to those coming out of the hospital: 

• Services of multiple healthcare teams. A multidisciplinary team may include doctors, nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals who work together to devise and implement a comprehensive care plan focused on recovery after a hospital stay.  

• Focused treatment plans. In a short-term rehab center, the staff develops and follows focused treatment plans geared toward helping patients recover as quickly as possible. By following these treatment plans, patients often can regain their strength and mobility faster than those in other facilities. 

• Recovering after surgery. Short-term rehab facilities are particularly beneficial to patients after surgeries such as knee or hip replacements. In these cases, the specially trained staff provides the intensive physical therapy needed to restore function and mobility. 

Ideal Patients for Short-Term Rehab Facilities

Patients who need focused rehabilitation after medical procedures or surgeries but don’t require long-term care are best served by short-term rehab facilities.  

Typically, patients who choose a short-term rehab facility can expect their stay to last from a few days to a few weeks. The length of a patient’s stay depends on their recovery progress and the nature of their medical condition. Those recovering from orthopedic surgeries often benefit the most from a stay in a short-term rehab facility. 

Hospital Discharge to Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) has an influence on medical care that goes beyond what most find at home or in an assisted living facility. SNFs can offer many services, like round-the-clock nursing, physical and job-related therapy, heart care and other special medical treatments. These places help patients who need constant supervision or have tricky health issues that need expert care.  

Consider stroke patients, for instance. They can get a lot out of the special stroke care programs many SNFs have. These programs focus on helping patients get better through targeted rehab services. 

Benefits of Skilled Nursing Care

Skilled nursing care offers specific advantages in some areas: 

• 24/7 Care and monitoring available. SNFs offer care and keep an eye on patients all day and night. This is key for people who need constant attention. 

• Well-trained staff on hand. These places employ many kinds of health experts. Nurses, therapists and doctors work as a team to provide the specialized care each patient requires. 

• Special care plans. Many SNFs have programs tailored for certain health issues. Patient-specific care plans are developed for conditions such as stroke, heart problems and surgeries. 

SNFs have many advantages, but some individuals may prefer a more familiar environment, such as home care. 

Ideal Candidates

Skilled nursing care works best for patients who need constant medical monitoring or have complex care needs that cannot be adequately managed at home. Patients who move to a skilled nursing facility can expect a structured environment where medical staff closely monitor their health needs. This type of care is best for people recovering from major surgeries, debilitating strokes or other serious health problems that need intensive rehab and ongoing medical oversight. 

An Overview of At-Home Recovery

At-home recovery allows patients to recover in their own homes, with help from family or hired caregivers. Those with minor health problems or who like the comfort and freedom of home often choose this option. Many decide on at-home recovery to keep their daily lifestyle, to stay in a place they know, and to let family take part in their care. But at-home recovery requires a degree of self-reliance or assistance from caregivers, so it works best for patients who are free of complex medical needs. 

Benefits of Home Care

There are advantages to recovering at home with a little help. 

• Maintaining routines. Patients can stick to their daily habits and feel comfortable in their own homes. 

• Recovery plans. Care at home gives more options for scheduling and tailoring recovery plans, which helps create a more personal approach to the recovery period. 

• Family involvement. Recovering at home allows family members to take part in caring for the patient, including offering emotional support. 

Ideal Patients for Home Recovery

Recovering at home works best for those with minor health problems or those who can take care of themselves with minimal assistance. Patients who like a more personal and less hospital-like setting may find recovering at home the most relaxing choice. It is crucial, however, to ensure the patient has access to the medical support and resources they need to manage their recovery well. 

Comparing Recovery Options After a Hospital Stay

Points to consider when choosing recovery options after a hospital stay include: 

• Amenities. Comparing what SNFs and short-term rehab facilities offer can help you decide where to recover. Pay special attention to the therapy programs, social activities and food options each offers. 

• Cost. Recovery options have different price tags. At-home care is generally the cheapest. SNFs and short-term rehab facilities cost more because they provide a higher level of care. When making your decision, check with your insurance provider to learn what your insurance will pay for and what you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket. 

• Quality of care. SNFs and short-term rehab centers offer special services and trained workers. You may not be able to get that level of care at home. 

• Recovery outcomes. Each choice has a different timeline for recovery. You should think about your health problems and what you want to achieve when choosing where to recover. 

Choosing the Right After-Hospital Care

The choice of after-hospital care should be based on what the patient needs, how much care they require and the cause of their hospitalization. Each option has its strengths. You may need the full care an SNF provides, the focused rehab that short-term care centers offer or the ease of recovering at home. Center Health Care manages many types of facilities to make sure patients can get the care they need to recover after a hospital stay fully. To find a facility that fits your needs,  find a center near you.