3 Steps to Recovering From Surgery With Short-Term Rehab
/Advancements in medical technologies over the past few decades have done so much to help us live long, healthy lives. Some of these medical advancements involve surgical intervention, and while surgery is never fun, many surgeries can significantly improve our health and our quality of life. A bypass surgery, for example, is designed to improve heart function, and a joint replacement surgery is designed to help a person move without pain and stiffness. If you needed either of these surgeries, they could improve your ability to participate in the activities you love. But before you could ski the slopes, take your grandkids to Disneyland, or learn to stand up paddleboard, you’d need to recover from the surgery itself.
For some people a hospital-to-home recovery is sufficient, but others need a little more time before they’re ready to return to independent living. For patients who require extended recovery time, skilled nursing facilities like Bella Vista Health Center offer short-term rehabilitation programs. Here’s the best way to optimize your recovery in a short-term rehab facility.
3 steps to recovering from surgery with short-term rehab
Most people find post-surgery short-term rehab extremely beneficial and comforting as well. These comprehensive therapy programs are designed to help you build strength, restore function, and return to independence as quickly as possible. By offering round-the-clock care as well as top-notch amenities and services in a comfortable environment, these rehab facilities give patients the freedom to focus on their healing and recovery.
If you’re planning to undergo surgery, or if you know someone who is, take a look at these 3 steps to recovering from surgery with short-term rehab.
Choose the right rehab program
The further in advance you start looking for a rehab facility, the better the chance you have of finding the perfect program for you. Of course, it’s not always possible to get an early start, but if you can shop around ahead of time, it’s a good idea. Things to look for in a short-term rehab facility include:
● A clean, comfortable environment (visit in-person if you can)
● Doctors and therapists on staff 24-hours
● Appropriate therapies and services for your condition
● An interdisciplinary approach to the recovery process (communication among providers)
● Compassionate, caring support staff
The more confident you feel about your chosen rehab facility, the more fully you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the process of your recovery.
Self-advocate from the beginning
No one knows more about you than you do. Only you know exactly how you feel, what you’re experiencing, what’s working for you, and what’s not. It’s important that you play an active role in your rehabilitation from the treatment planning phase all the way through to your graduation from the program. This means speaking up for yourself, asking as many questions as you need to, keeping track of details to share with your providers, and communicating your needs. Self-advocacy is an important part of ensuring a comprehensive recovery so you can navigate your way back to health and independent living.
Commit and see it through
One of the great benefits of recovery in a short-term rehab program is that your daily needs are taken care of, so you are free to focus on your recovery. It’s important to take advantage of this time and fully commit to the rehabilitation program. How you approach these days immediately following your surgery can have a lasting impact on your strength, stamina, mobility, and your overall health. Even if the exercises your therapists ask you to do are not enjoyable in the moment, they could pave the way for years of enjoyment ahead. The more you commit to your rehab now, the stronger you’ll get, and the sooner you can get back to doing the things you love.
Short-term rehab in San Diego | Bella Vista Health Center
At Bella Vista Health Center, we’re committed to providing the best short-term rehab program San Diego has to offer. We offer the highest quality individualized care, personal attention, and the comforts of home in our 5-Star skilled nursing facility in Lemon Grove. Our team is dedicated to empowering patients and helping them get back to independent living as quickly as possible. For more information about our short-term rehab program, give us a call at (619) 644-1000 today.
