It is common and normal to have concerns about your physical state and ability to function after a surgical procedure.
There is a lot of planning that goes into preparing for surgery – blood work, tests, preoperative appointments. During this planning process, it is essential to create an after-surgery plan – return home, recover as an inpatient, do you need to hire help, or is outpatient rehabilitation an option.
How your post-operative care and recovery takes place is unique to your personal needs and resources. Some people may have family available to alternate caregiving and won’t need skilled nursing care.
Many seniors benefit from recovering in an inpatient facility such as a Short-Stay Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation facility, where they have access to 24/7 care from licensed nursing staff.
There are several options and combinations of after-surgery care. Talking to your doctor about which options are more suitable for you is always an ideal place to start.
After Surgery Care: Inpatient Options
Some seniors may recover well, and their doctor discharges them from the hospital or surgical center with permission to return home, but they may not feel confident in returning home. Several factors create this gap, some of which are due to major surgical procedures, the need for further medical care, or may need closer monitoring and assistance than could be acquired at home. Prior to leaving the hospital, you will have likely experienced some form of Acute Rehabilitation, even if you are transferring to a Short-Stay facility.
Acute Rehabilitation
Orthopedic, neurological, and cardiovascular surgeries are among the group of surgeries that will likely require Acute Rehabilitation after the procedure. Acute Rehabilitation takes place in a hospital or a facility dedicated to this type of care. Depending on your overall health, certain surgery, and recovery rate, Acute Rehabilitation can last anywhere from a couple of days to weeks. The type of care associated with Acute Rehabilitation includes close monitoring of vital signs, administration of IV medications, dressing changes, physical, occupational or speech therapy, and food and nutrition services, to name a few. When you are fit to be released, you may be able to return home, or your next stop could be a Short-Stay Skilled Nursing facility.
Short-Stay Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation Facility
A Short-Stay Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation facility is a more “all-inclusive” recovery option. Short-Stay facilities are not nursing homes. Many of your routine activities are limited during your time recovering from surgery, such as shopping, cooking, and housekeeping. Some people require assistance bathing, bathroom needs, dressing, or even getting in and out of bed. It’s not always going to be this way. Your visit will entail therapies specialized to your needs. The staff is medically trained and focused on helping to obtain your maximum level of functional mobility.
Several studies have found that those who recover in a Short-Stay Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation facility obtained higher recovery levels and were less likely to be readmitted for the same problem. This method allows consistent treatment and therapy, resulting in a more linear and fast-tracked recovery. Bridge Care Suites believes in the importance of a holistic approach rather than focusing solely on the problem. It takes the entire body working in harmony for healing, especially nutrition. BCS provides three full meals packed with nutrients that your body needs to heal – and they’re delicious. At a Short-Stay Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation facility, you will find immense support, not only from the staff but from other guests. The community environment supports cognition, motivation for healing, and companionship.
After Surgery Care: In-Home and Outpatient Options
If a patient’s doctor has determined they are stable and healthy enough to return home directly from the hospital, typically they will have orders for attending outpatient therapy, such as Physical, Occupational, or Speech-Language. In some cases, upon returning home, a patient may be considered homebound. Medicare defines a homebound person as someone who “needs the help of another person or medical equipment such as crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair to leave home, or requires special transportation, or the doctor believes that their health or illness could get worse if they leave home; and, it is difficult for them to leave their home and typically cannot do so.”
Outpatient Rehabilitation
After being discharged from the hospital, some patients can return home and attend outpatient rehabilitation therapy at their chosen facility. Between therapy sessions, the therapist will likely assign exercises to use while at home so that you continue progressing in recovery. Outpatient therapy provides seniors access to treatment that can improve their quality of life. As we age, neurological and physical conditions are inevitable. The techniques and methods practiced in outpatient therapy help uncover new strategies to continue living life to the fullest. Seniors can receive support with pain management, muscle weakness, reduced range of motion, impaired balance or coordination, or lowered endurance.
In-Home Care and Rehabilitation
After time spent in a hospital or a surgical center, the thought of returning home can be daunting for some and yearned for by others. In a recent poll, most seniors said they would rather receive care at home instead of staying somewhere or going to an outpatient clinic. In particular cases, in-home care can be the best option. For starters, if your surgical procedure is minor and little monitoring or rehabilitation is necessary, your doctor will likely suggest recovery at home. For the most part – except for major surgery or those who will require extensive levels of medical care – the choice to recover at home or in a Skilled Nursing facility is yours.
Multiple factors need to be sorted out before your surgery if you plan to recover at home. At the top of the list is who – and how – you will hire care, what type of care or therapy you will need, what modifications you may need to make to your home, and if you will need any medical equipment. Medicare does provide coverage for in-home care and rehabilitation, but it is limited and specific requirements must be met. On the other hand, Medicare coverage for inpatient services is broader. Expenses and insurance coverage are often central deciding factors for some people, and it’s essential to understand what is covered and what costs you will have to pay out-of-pocket.
Recovery and Rehabilitation At Bridge Care Suites
While the appeal of a home is tempting and hard to resist, it is often not ideal. Bridge Care Suites is empathetic towards the peace of mind that home’s comforts bring and have emphasized integrating the comfort of home within an environment that helps you heal and recover to the fullest extent possible. The staff at BCS encourages you to schedule a tour of their campus and discover the possibilities and opportunities for rehabilitation. As a medicare-certified facility, your stay at Bridge Care Suites is covered (you must meet Medicare’s qualifications). Contact the staff today by filling out the online form, and they will get back to you promptly.
