What Short-Term Rehab is Like at Knute Nelson
Aug 19, 2020 by Danielle Andersen
Recovery after a joint replacement is more like a marathon than a sprint. While your hip or knee surgery means a more mobile, pain-free lifestyle, it’ll take some recovery time before you reach the finish line. Fortunately, short-term rehabilitation can help jumpstart your recovery after your hospital stay if you can’t return home immediately.
At Knute Nelson, short-term rehabilitation is part of our specially designed therapy continuum and the first step in recovery after your joint replacement. In this post, you’ll learn what short-term rehabilitation is, the therapies that are included and what you can expect from your stay at Knute Nelson’s short-term rehabilitation center.
What is Short-Term Rehabilitation?
Short-term rehab offers a range of therapies for people recovering from joint replacements, surgeries, illnesses and accidents. If you’re not ready to return home after your hospital stay, you’ll be referred to a short-term rehabilitation center. Short-term rehabilitation centers provide medical teams and therapy experts who will work with you to regain your mobility, strength and flexibility before returning home.
At Knute Nelson Care Center, which has achieved a five-star rating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Comparison rating system, you’ll experience therapies designed to get you back to doing regular, everyday activities again as quickly and safely as possible.
What You Can Expect in Short Term Rehab at Knute Nelson
Post-Op Recovery Assessment
In preparation for your post-op recovery, it helps to know what to expect. When you’re out of surgery and the hospital refers you to Knute Nelson, our team will begin by carefully assessing your condition.
We’ll review nursing and therapy notes in order to get a good background on your current health needs and recovery. We’ll also check your insurance and make sure you have coverage for our short-term rehab services. If there are any expenses associated with our services, we’ll talk with you about those before you begin treatment.
Once qualified, you’ll transition over to our short-term rehab center where you’ll reside for 7-14 days or for however long you need rehab.
What Your Residence is Like at Knute Nelson
When you arrive at Knute Nelson, you’ll get settled into one of our 17 private rooms. We offer 13 suites that include a private bathroom with shower, plus a kitchenette with a fridge and microwave, so you can keep foods that you enjoy in your room.*
We also try to make our short-term rehab center as warm and inviting as possible during your stay. Megan Holt, Short-Term Rehabilitation Admissions Coordinator at Knute Nelson, says patients are welcome to personalize their residence and help it feel more like home.
“We like to encourage patients to have their families bring pictures,” Megan says. “If they have a certain comforter they are used to sleeping with or certain things they are used to having, we really encourage them to bring them here, even if they are here for a short time.”
*If you request a private suite, we’ll try to accommodate as much as possible. However, we cannot guarantee that one of our suites will be available. If a suite isn’t available, you’ll reside in one of our other comfortable and private rooms with private bath.
What You’ll Experience Day-to-Day
Every morning when you wake up, you’ll have a nurse assistant or occupational therapist get you ready for the day. If an occupational therapist comes, they’ll use this morning wake-up call as your therapy.
“A lot of the times, occupational therapy likes to use that time to see how well patients are doing as far as brushing their own teeth, brushing their hair, bathing, getting dressed,” Megan says. “Like, how can they do all of that. Do they need assistance, or can they do it themselves?”
While there is no set therapy schedule each day, you’ll work with LPNs, RNs, physical therapists and occupational therapists throughout the day and in between meals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ll receive therapy in your private room for the first 14 days of your stay.
If your stay lasts longer than 14 days, you’ll be able to participate in exercises and activities with your therapist in our on-site therapy gym to help improve your mobility and strength. This therapy gym also includes a kitchen, where you’ll work with an occupational therapist on regular everyday activities like frying an egg and washing dishes.
“We like to get the patient’s background during their evaluation – what did they used to do at home, what type of care did they provide themselves or care they provide for someone else in their home,” Megan says. “They really work on all of those activities of daily living to get back to their prior level, so they are safe at home.”
When you aren’t in therapy, you’ll have free time to watch TV in your room, read a book or participate in events put on by the short-term rehabilitation staff. There is also a beauty shop, bistro, chapel and outdoor healing gardens to help you enjoy your time at our short-term rehab center as much as possible.
Short-Term Rehab at Knute Nelson During COVID-19
If you are coming to short-term rehab during this time, it’s important for you to know that you will be required to quarantine for 14 days. This means you will receive all therapy and meals in your room to help keep you safe and healthy during your recovery.
Each member of our team is required to wear face masks and eye protection, like goggles or face shields, whenever they interact with you. While family members are not allowed inside during this time, they can come to your window or you can do outdoor visits if you are at our short-term rehab center beyond the 14-day quarantine.
Our goal during this time is to ensure that all patients feel safe, healthy and comfortable while receiving short-term rehab with us.
Recover from Your Joint Replacement at Knute Nelson
At Knute Nelson, our therapy continuum can help you recover from a joint replacement as quickly, safely and effectively as possible. Our team offers the care and experience you need as you transition from post-op into short-term rehab.
To learn more about short-term rehab and our therapy continuum at Knute Nelson, contact us today at 320-759-4613 or by filling out this form.
