Convalescent Care
Finding the right senior home can be challenging, and many factors need to be taken into consideration to choose the one that best fits a senior’s needs. At some point, convalescent care may be required to meet those needs.
Unlike long-term senior living, these homes primarily provide a caring environment for patients after surgeries, illness or medical procedures, and are intended for short-term care only. They are staffed with medical professionals who can provide health care for a patient in a home-like environment.
When Is Convalescent Care Needed?
Convalescent care facilities, sometimes called Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, are designed for both men and women, but unlike traditional senior living, these homes may feature men and women of all ages recovering from illness or accident.
People receiving convalescent care may suffer from:
- Stroke
- Accidental injury
- Long illnesses
- Post-surgery recovery
While the above conditions are common, there isn’t a prescribed set of diagnoses for entry. All cases are assessed on an as-needed basis, and patients that can benefit from convalescent care are generally admitted if the facility can meet the level of care the patient needs. The amount of time each patient stays in a convalescent home varies case by case, with some as short as a few days and others as long as six months or more.
Convalescent Care Services
Because convalescent homes are medical facilities, patients can expect to receive services needed to recover significantly from their condition. Services include, but are not limited to:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Emotional / Psychological therapy
Each patient’s therapy regimen is based on his or her particular needs and prescribed by a doctor.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Convalescent Care
The advantages of convalescent care are many. Unlike nursing homes, these facilities are goal oriented, with the main goal being to get the patient out of care and into their own homes. They are recovery facilities, so spots come open often, eliminating long waiting lists like in other senior living homes.
While some patients would rather recover at home, these facilities provide the patient with the professional level of care that they need, with in-house doctors, nurses and therapists. This eliminates daily trips to the hospital for therapy sessions.
One disadvantage to choosing this type of care is that it is still in a hospital-like setting, even though many facilities try to make the experience as home-like as possible. Another consideration is that families are much less active in this type care than in an actual home setting, as convalescent homes can be inconveniently located for visiting family.
Convalescent Care Costs
Costs vary from center to center, but most patients can expect to see charges around the same amount per night as a stay in the hospital. The services and medications that a patient receives are also billable to the patient and his insurance, much like at a hospital. As convalescent care is medical care prescribed by a doctor, many insurances cover all or a large portion of the cost.
Payment programs include:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Worker’s compensation (through an employer)
- Employer-based insurance plans
- Private insurance
- Veteran’s Administration referrals
Most insurance plans will also pay for the entire stay at a convalescent care facility, unlike with nursing homes which are only covered for a short-term stay, or assisted living homes which are mostly self-pay.
Written by senior housing staff writer.
