If you’ve been hospitalized for a surgery or illness, you’ll likely need follow-up rehabilitation therapy to help you recover. This is often a critical step to help you transition from the hospital to home as safely as possible.
Rehab therapy can also be done on an outpatient basis to help improve your health, pain or recovery. People of all ages, from children to older adults, can benefit from rehabilitation therapy.
What is rehabilitation therapy?
Rehabilitation therapy—sometimes known as post-acute rehab, inpatient therapy, outpatient therapy, subacute or transitional care—is care you receive following hospitalization or injury.
This type of rehab usually focuses on speech, physical and occupational therapies, but can include other specialties like aquatic therapy, joint pain therapy, oncology therapy, post-pandemic rehabilitation and more.
Rehab therapy isn’t just for those receiving care.
The goal of rehab therapy is to help you regain lost function—or learn compensation tactics specific to your needs—so you can return to everyday life as safely as possible.
As you consider your rehab therapy options, you may have questions.
We have tips on what to ask your doctor or rehab therapy provider:
Can I choose where I go?
Your doctor may have some recommendations, but don’t be afraid to research on your own, or ask to go to a different location.
Where can I get rehab therapy services?
Rehab therapy is available to people of all ages in various settings. Nursing homes, rehab centers and long-term care hospitals can offer this care, as can home health agencies.
If you have Medicare coverage, there are some designations for where your rehab therapy can take place. Be sure to check with your insurance and Medicare policies about coverage for your post-hospital care.
Read more: payment options, Medicare FAQs
Some rehab therapy programs focus solely on having you complete exercises. At the Good Samaritan Society, we also focus on making you feel comfortable, welcome and encouraged during your recovery.
No matter where you choose to go, you should feel in control of the process.
What should my therapy program include?
First and foremost, it should be about you.
If you have specific tasks you want to be able to do again, or if you’re hesitant about a particular exercise, let your therapists know. A good rehab therapy team will make sure your program matches your needs and talk you through each exercise. Your wants, needs and fears should be acknowledged and respected.
You might feel overwhelmed after you leave the hospital. Your therapists will have the skills and experience to reassure you.
What should I look for in a rehab therapy team?
Finding the right therapists is important. Regaining your strength can be challenging. You may feel frustrated or exhausted along the way.
Choose a rehab therapy team that offers you patience and compassion, but also pushes you to reach your goals.
Why should I choose the Good Samaritan Society for rehab therapy?
At the Good Samaritan Society, we don’t think therapy should be one size fits all. Your rehab therapy program will be created just for you with our priority being your individual physical, emotional and spiritual goals.
We’ll do everything we can to help you recover as quickly and comfortably as possible, with all the support you need. Our therapy team will encourage you, listen to your frustrations and cheer on your progress every step of the way.
Click here to find a Good Samaritan Society location near you.
