Are you expecting to have surgery in the near future? In our latest Living Well podcast episode, Dr. Ann Allie shared more about your options for short-term rehabilitation in Chicago, and how it can help make the shift from hospital to home as seamless as possible.
Short-term rehabilitation provides necessary interim support
Whether older adults need more support before they can be independent after surgery, or they just need to temporarily rely on other medical or nursing needs, short-term rehabilitation supplies the necessary interim support.
“It’s a place individuals can go where they have 24-hour nurses to assist with medication, and they also have access to physical, occupational and speech therapists to help them achieve mandatory milestones before going home,” Dr. Ann Allie, a physician specializing in geriatric medicine who works with older adults at Wesley Place, explained.
Overall, short-term rehabilitation focuses on restoring individuals’ ability to function adeptly in their own environments. With help from rehab professionals like those at Wesley Place, people can find relief, reassurance and confidence.
“A lot of what rehab is about is being safe, comfortable and knowing your balance and strength is where it needs to be,” Dr. Allie said. “No matter the reason for the short-term care, we sit down with individuals and assess exactly what [they] need in order to get home.”
Finding short-term rehabilitation in Chicago that’s a home away from home
If someone must be away from home, it’s heartening to know places like Wesley Place exist.
Dr. Allie cited people who have had one joint replacement and revisited Wesley Place for another, due to the quality of care, consistency of staff and top-notch experience.
“Wesley Place is small and homey; a comfortable place to stay. Everyone from the top down — physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, therapists, nursing assistants, and even those who are providing food and snacks — all are incredibly friendly and very patient. Those are some of the factors that make Wesley Place unique. It’s very personal.”
A supportive team that rounds out care
Short-term rehabilitation in Chicago, like Wesley Place, also typically offers support from dieticians, who ensure people become accustomed to any dietary restrictions or help them work towards regaining weight they may have lost in the hospital. Social workers are also on hand to manage both the transition into short-term rehab and out of it, and administrative staff members work diligently to streamline the application and placement process.
“We are operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can go to rehab on a Friday night or a Saturday or Sunday and be evaluated rather quickly — so much so that typically the next day you’ve already started on your physical therapy,” Dr. Allie advised.
Personalized short-term rehabilitation in Chicago
No rehabilitation follows a formula; each individual’s type of care and length of stay differs. A personalized approach puts the person’s needs first and guarantees he or she will return home when truly ready.
“If we deem [people] not quite ready and think they would benefit from more extensive rehab, we will try to keep them so when they do go home, they are in the best condition possible and ready to be independent again,” advises Dr. Allie. “Ultimately, that is our most important role.”
If you’re planning on receiving short-term rehabilitation in Chicago, learn more about the short-term rehab services at Wesley Place and what you can expect from short-term rehab.
Listen to our Living Well podcast for an interview with Dr. Ann Allie, a physician specializing in geriatric medicine who works with older adults at Wesley Place at Chicago Methodist Senior Services, here.