Types of Rehabilitation
The patient’s medical team will decide when a patient is stable and ready to begin rehabilitation and, working with patients’ families, will help determine which type of rehabilitation services are needed. Different types of rehabilitation facilities are available, including both inpatient and outpatient services. Patients’ particular options may be dependent on the geographic area where they live as well as the specific details of their health insurance plans. Patients may receive several different types of rehabilitation over the course of their recovery.
Sub-acute Rehabilitation: In cases in which patients cannot tolerate or do not require the intensive level of rehabilitation provided in an acute rehabilitation setting, sub-acute programs provide less intensive rehabilitation services, sometimes in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home. These less intensive therapies may also benefit patients who have already undergone a course of acute rehabilitation, as they continue to make progress in regaining function.
Day Treatment: Sometimes known as Day Rehab or a Day Hospital, day treatment is designed for patients who are well enough to live at home and can travel to a structured group setting for their rehabilitation services and then return home. Patients often transition to a day program following care at a sub-acute rehabilitation therapy. Services include occupational, speech and/or physical therapy.
Outpatient Therapies: Outpatient rehabilitation therapies provide long-term maintenance for patients as they continue to recover following a period of acute or sub-acute rehabilitation. Outpatient therapy is also an option for individuals with brain aneurysm whose conditions were not serious enough to initially require hospitalization. Patients graduate to this level of care once they are ready to resume typical daily tasks such as driving, shopping, leisure activities and returning to work.