What happens when a loved one’s capacity to search for themselves abruptly deteriorates? What should you do if a patient is ready to be discharged but has not returned to their baseline? Staying in a skilled nursing facility may be the best option. The quality of care provided to the elderly varies. This article will help you understand if a family member is an appropriate candidate for subacute care and explains what is sub acute care?
An Overview of Subacute Care
Subacute care has a more severe rehabilitation regimen than acute care. This kind of treatment is provided to patients who are critically sick or who have sustained serious injuries. It is often offered to people with cancer, neurological diseases, or wound care. Patients who have completed acute rehabilitation but still require care may be offered the option of continuing care.
Therapy sessions are often scheduled for less than two hours each day. The focus of treatment is on making the person functional in the long run and getting their strength and mobility back.
Combining various methods of therapy may also provide the greatest outcomes. This contrasts with assisted living, which offers ongoing help to people who can no longer live alone and care for themselves.
Is Your Loved One an Ideal Candidate for Subacute Care?
Subacute care may be required for patients who have experienced a major illness, accident, or disease aggravation. Medically stable individuals who need this level of care do not require hospitalization. However, they do require the attention of a diversified team of experienced experts. This team may include doctors, nurses, and experts from other related professions like dieticians.
Subacute care benefits patients who need complicated treatments such as infusion therapy, pain management, inhalation therapy, wound care, and those recovering from strokes and other neurological illnesses. The typical length of stay is determined by each patient’s particular demands.
Who Benefits Most from Subacute Care?
Subacute care may not be the best option for many elderly people. Those whose diseases or accidents are likely to have long-term effects may benefit from moving to an assisted living or nursing facility. Other elderly people who can tolerate more intensive therapy may benefit more from acute care. When is sub-acute care and rehabilitation required? Who stands to gain the most?
Injured People
Your capacity to care for yourself is impaired, regardless of whether the harm was caused by a fall or an accident. A shattered bone or soft tissue damage may severely limit movement. Even the most basic tasks, such as getting a sip of water, might be hindered by lower back or leg ailments.
Injuries to the arms, neck, or upper back limit eating, dressing, and bathing. If you are unable to support your weight, you will need assistance going to the restroom, in the kitchen, and moving between rooms. This is a big issue for people who live alone. Hospitalization for your wounds may not be required. However, 24-hour in-home care is both costly and inconvenient.
The most practical solution is a brief stay in a sub-acute facility, which is intended to facilitate patient rehabilitation and departure. Subacute care also provides the benefit of supporting you in rebuilding strength. This has many safety benefits, like making it less likely that someone will trip and get hurt.
Those Affected by Illness
When someone is ill and in the hospital for an extended length of time, they often spend most of their time in bed. The effects are especially bad for seniors, whose lack of activity makes them less fit and hurts their overall health.
Subacute care is a welcome option for seniors who have just been discharged from the hospital. It ensures your safety by monitoring your recovery and making support readily accessible. The whole care team, including occupational, physical, and speech therapists, will be in the subacute facility. There is no need to plan transportation for medical appointments since the staff handles everything.
People Who Are Recuperating from Surgical Operations
For the greatest outcomes, intense physical therapy is essential after procedures. Nevertheless, seniors undergoing rehabilitation no longer have the choice of hospital recovery. Patients are now swiftly dismissed from the hospital if there are no complications.
But what if you want assistance once your hospital stay is over? At this stage, subacute care enters the picture. This treatment program may provide you with short-term assistance with daily tasks. To optimize the benefits of the procedure, you might become stronger with the help of physical and occupational therapy. Because a care team oversees and coordinates your treatment, you recover as quickly as possible.
Conclusion
When choosing a subacute institution, there are many variables to consider. A professional and experienced team, as well as 24-hour security, are required for your loved one’s safety. We recommend that you visit the care facility ahead of time to get a sense of it.
