When your loved one is hospitalized for surgery or a medical ailment, families often focus on immediate needs while also planning for recovery. The post-hospital rehabilitation period can make all the difference in your loved one. For a number of reasons, rehabilitation and skilled nursing care can be the right choice for seniors considering their options after being discharged from the hospital.

After undergoing a medical procedure, seniors often want to return home to heal. It's worth weighing factors like their ability to manage hygiene and medication schedules, as well as access to specialized care and mental health support, when making the post-hospitalization decision. Jonny J., previous director of business development at West Hills Village Senior Residence in Portland, OR, a senior living community managed by The Goodman Group, says the days immediately following discharge can be vital for recuperation.

"Most of the time, the decision is made in just a matter of days between coming out of surgery and relocating," Jonny says. The compressed timeline means families need to make important decisions quickly during an already eventful time. Consider the following factors ahead of time so your family is ready to make the decision when it matters most.

WHY YOU MAY WANT TO CHOOSE SKILLED NURSING CARE INSTEAD OF HOME CARE AFTER A HOSPITAL STAY

The idea of returning home immediately may be appealing to seniors. We all want to be surrounded by familiarity, but if a strong recovery is their health goal, they may need more than home can offer. 

Consider these signs that additional support may be beneficial: multiple medications that need careful timing, wound care that requires professional monitoring, mobility changes that benefit from therapy support or memory changes that affect daily routines. Having access to support and professional caregivers can offer security and reassurance to recovering seniors and their families.

Skilled nursing communities managed by The Goodman Group offer comprehensive rehabilitation therapies and compassionate long-term care. Care options range from post-hospitalization short-term rehabilitation to long-term care solutions.

Jonny puts it this way: "Your goal is our goal. We want to get you home as soon as it's safe, and we get there by establishing progress goals for your time in skilled care. In most cases, you're going to meet those goals a lot sooner if you have round-the-clock care than with the options afforded with home care.

SKILLED NURSING COMMUNITY OFFERINGS

Everyone's health journey from hospital to home looks different, and skilled nursing communities offer numerous benefits over home care for seniors choosing a care path after hospitalization. Consider the following services offered at health and rehabilitation communities:

Comprehensive Care

In addition to skilled care and rehabilitation therapies for the short and long-term, skilled nursing communities provide 24-hour on-site staffing to respond to any situation and alleviate stress around concerns like managing a changing medication schedule following hospitalization. This round-the-clock support means families can know their loved one has professional team members available when needed.

Multidisciplinary Team

Specialists at skilled nursing communities create goals and a personalized plan of care to work toward them. Care teams often include care navigators who help coordinate between different specialists and keep families informed throughout the recovery process. 

Regular care conferences bring family into the picture, helping them chart their loved one's progress as their health journey moves through skilled care. When it's time to be discharged from skilled care, social service specialists will help ease the transition back home.

Rehabilitation

At skilled nursing communities, individuals receive on-site rehabilitation services including individualized physical therapy to address their unique physical challenges as well as occupational and speech therapy, whatever they need to rest, recover and become their best selves again.

Personalized Service Offerings

The goal of the community is to help the individual achieve their recovery goals, regardless of age. From housekeeping, laundry and linen services, to therapy-focused diets, three chef-inspired meals per day and socially engaging life enrichment programs, skilled care focuses on quality of life.

Communities managed by The Goodman Group offer comprehensive rehabilitation services including physical, occupational and speech therapy, tailored to individual recovery needs following surgery, stroke, cardiac events and other health conditions.

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING SKILLED CARE

When touring communities or speaking with discharge planners, families can prepare with key questions:

• What is the typical length of stay for someone with my loved one's condition? This helps you plan for the transition and understand the recovery timeline.
• How often will they receive therapy? Daily therapy often leads to better outcomes, and some communities offer therapy seven days a week.
• Can family participate in care conferences? Being involved in care planning helps you stay informed and advocate for your loved one's needs.
• How do you help residents maintain connections with their regular physicians? Continuity of care with familiar providers can improve comfort and outcomes.

THE CENTRAL CONSIDERATION: “WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?”

"Better" looks different for every person coming out of the hospital. That's why skilled care includes care plans tailored to each senior's current state, goals and objectives. "Great care lies at the intersection of trust and compassion," Jonny says. Where the two meet, it all starts with a question: "What's most important to you? Is it getting back home? Getting back to the things you love to do? We want to focus on the person over the process.”

"Think about a person being discharged from the hospital," he adds, "where they don't have much control over their environment. If they want to make the most of their post-hospitalization care, whether it's short or long-term, they need to feel some agency again. Health and rehabilitation communities help them feel like their input matters as they get ready to get back on their feet."

The right community can make all the difference in their recovery story. Find a community that puts your loved one's goals and well-being at the center of everything they do.