Q&A: Short-Term Rehab
Jan 27, 2020 by Maria Thompson
When you’re getting ready to leave the hospital, it’s natural to feel anxious. You might think, “I’m not ready to be at home yet.”
Your doctor will likely suggest short-term rehab to bridge the gap between the hospital and home.
What is short-term rehab?
Short-term rehab is designed to get you ready to be safe and thrive at home.
Whether you’ve had surgery, an injury or you’re recovering from an illness, you’ll need time to recover and heal. You’ll also need to regain strength and mobility. That requires one or more therapies. Here are a few sample scenarios:
- If you had a knee replacement, you’d work with a physical therapist to regain your strength, mobility and balance so you can return to the activities you love (if at all possible).
- If you had a stroke, you might have trouble swallowing or speaking. You’d work with a speech therapist to compensate for or recover these abilities.
- If you had a stroke, surgery or been ill, an occupational therapist would help you get back to doing day-to-day activities on your own like eating, dressing or bathing,
How does it work?
You’ll be evaluated when you enter short-term rehab: what can and can’t you do? What can you do but only with help? What was your life like before your injury, illness or surgery?
You’ll work with your doctor, therapists, care providers - and your family if you wish - to set reasonable goals.
Here are some sample goals:
- Move from a bed to a chair
- Get to the bathroom on your own
- Get in and out of a car
- Walk again with a walker or own your own
- Climb stairs
- Dress yourself
- Bathe
Who’s on my team?
Your team includes a number of medical professionals who work together on your care:
- 24-hour skilled nursing teams
- Occupational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Speech therapists
How long is short-term rehab?
The length of your stay depends on the time it takes to achieve your goals. For example, a knee replacement might take a few weeks. A stroke might take months.
Who uses short-term rehab?
Here are just a few of the conditions that benefit from short-term rehab:
- Joint replacement surgery
- Cardiovascular surgery
- Stroke
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Pneumonia
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Heart attack
Short-term Rehab at Knute Nelson
Where is Knute Nelson’s Short-Term Rehab Center?
Our short-term rehab center and suites are located in the Care Center in Alexandria (420 12th Avenue East).
Short-term rehab at Knute Nelson includes:
- 24-hour skilled nursing
- Help with activities of daily living as needed (e.g., dressing, bathing, toileting)
- A variety of activities
- Delicious, nutritious meals and snacks
- Newly remodeled suites
Questions and Tours
If you have questions or want to schedule a tour, contact us at (320) 763-6653 or visit our Short-Term Rehab website.
