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Post-Acute Care’s Role in Creating Better Health Outcomes

Hospital stays are becoming shorter and shorter and many people are being discharged “sicker and quicker.” A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society discovered that shorter stays in the hospital are linked to earlier hospital readmissions.

One solution to this issue that is gaining popularity is post-acute care, provided in specialized transitional care facilities like those offered by Alden. These Short-Term Rehabilitation centers offer exceptional care and offer several advantages over staying in the hospital or recovering at home:

  • Post-acute care is substantially less expensive than a hospital stay.
  • People can recover in a comfortable, residential setting, with many amenities including activities, restaurant dining, and the opportunity for socializing with others.
  • A trained and licensed team of professionals who work together to create an individualized wellness plan designed to meet your specific goals – including a return to maximum functionality and independence.
  • 24/7 care and services to help you recover as fully and completely as possible with therapy, meals, care, grooming and more available to you so you can focus on what really matters – returning to home.
  • Post-acute care facilities are designed to help patients recover – a person’s home may have obstacles to both safety and recovery. And, most people are not as compliant about doing therapy exercises and following their plan of care when they are at home so they struggle to achieve optimal outcomes.

So how can you ensure you are getting the best post-acute care possible? It pays to do your research before you are hospitalized. If you have a planned surgery – such as a joint replacement – which you know will require significant post-operative care, start looking at your options now. Obviously, no one plans to have a heart attack or stroke, but if you’re at high risk for an adverse medical event, you may want to do little research to be prepared. Trying to make a decision on where to recuperate while in the midst of a hospital stay is probably not going to yield the best result.

Here are some tips on how to find a quality Post-Acute Care Rehabilitation Facility:

  • Look at their record for achieving recovery outcomes and patient satisfaction.
  • Make sure they have the specific services and the experience in the care you’ll need for your particular recovery.
  • How well do they manage pain?
  • What is the average length of stay?
  • Is the Therapy Center a bustling place so you know people are getting their therapy?
  • Do they offer a variety of nutritious and delicious food?
  • What insurance do they accept? Are they Medicare and Medicaid certified?
  • Do they engage their patients in activities that are enjoyable and help speed recovery?

Finally, take a tour of the facility – do the patients seem well cared for and happy in their surroundings? Is the environment clean and attractive? Are there areas where family members can have an enjoyable visit with their loved one?

Alden’s Short-Term Rehabilitation and Post-Acute Care Centers offer individuals a seamless transition from the hospital, to an Alden rehabilitation facility and, eventually, to home. We have exclusive programs that target individual needs, including:

  • OrthopedicPro™ for patients who have had joint replacement surgery or injury
  • CardioPro™ for patients needing heart rehabilitation and therapy
  • PulmonaryPro™ to help patients breathe easier
  • NeuroStrokePro™ for stoke patients
  • MedicallyComplexPro™ for patients who require a combination of post-acute programs or require more acute care, therapy and services to get better

Alden’s Short-Term Rehabilitation Centers consistently rank higher than the national averages on patient satisfaction (most facilities rank 10 out of 10), length of stay, ability to manage pain and other factors people look to when searching for quality post-acute care. One of our newest therapy tools is the NeuroGym, which helps when patients cannot use traditional equipment due to a loss of functioning and motor skills. From the basics such as standing and static balance to walking and gross and fine motor control, the NeuroGym can help patients maintain and improve their functional independence.

And, of course, we pay attention to the details. Just some of the things we provide to create an environment conducive to healing include happy hours, ice cream parlors with made-to-order creations, several lounges to relax and catch up with friends and family, and an iPad loaner program that makes it easy for patients to stay in touch with loved ones.

To find an Alden Post-Acute Rehabilitation Center near you, visit our website.