After an illness, surgery, or accident that requires your loved one to be admitted into a short-term rehab center, it is normal for you to feel a wide range of emotions. For example, you may feel immense amounts of stress, worry, confusion, and uncertainty about how you can help your loved one during their recovery.

There are things you can do to make them as comfortable as possible—and give yourself a greater sense of control over the situation. Following these suggestions can help you and your loved one make it through this difficult period.

1. Pack Their Favorite Items

Take the time to gather your loved one’s personal toiletries, clothing, medication, and other items, which will make their time during rehabilitation feel more comfortable and familiar. Consider packing:

• Your loved one’s favorite toiletries, including preferred brands of toothpaste, shampoo, and soap. If they wear makeup, consider packing some of those items if you feel they would appreciate them.
• Comfortable clothing and shoes for relaxing and sleeping. Pack your loved one’s favorite pajamas, sneakers, and clothing that they can move around in if attending any physical therapy. If you know they like to dress up on occasion, include a nice outfit for them to wear.
• A few favorite books, photos, mobile devices, headphones, or hobby supplies to help them pass the time.       Many short-term rehab facilities like Marjorie P. Lee have private rooms, where people can have personal items to help make them feel more at home during their recovery.

Leave valuables like extra cash, credit cards, jewelry, and sentimental items at home so there’s less to keep track of—and no need to worry about misplacing anything.

Related Blog: 5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Skilled Nursing Facility for Short-Term Rehab

2. Help Out With Some of Their Responsibilities

While your loved one is concentrating on their recovery, it may be helpful to temporarily take over any responsibilities they have that you can handle for them. This could involve financial management or helping them maintain their home. Before your loved one is goes to short-term rehab, it may be helpful to:

• Make arrangements to help your loved one pay the bills. Ask your loved one about their mortgage payments, recurring bills, and other ongoing expenses, and how to access them and ensure they stay on track while they are busy recovering.
• Speak with someone from the rehab center's billing department to figure out the payments for any expenses.
• Cancel subscriptions, arrange for things like yard and pet care, and ask the post office to stop making deliveries to their home address temporarily.
• Help take care of their home while they are in short-term rehab. If your loved one has a garden or plants, helping maintain their home can be a thoughtful gesture.

3. Speak With the Rehab Team to Plan for At-Home Aftercare

Speaking to your loved one’s short-term rehab provider about the medical issues they are facing, is critical to be aware of what is going on, how the treatment is going, and what a plan for the future may look like. Participate in care conferences offered by the short-term rehab provider. Knowing the answers to these questions is an important step in helping them to heal once they leave the short-term rehab:

• Will they need in-home, professional assistance once therapy is complete?
• Are there any physical or dietary restrictions that will help their continued recovery?
• Is there any special equipment that would make their return home easier?
• When will they need to see a doctor again?
  

4. Prepare for Your Loved One's Return

Whether your loved one is returning to their own home or staying with you, their living space must be optimized for a complete recovery.

Before your they come home from the short-term rehab, think about:

• Renting or buying any necessary assistive devices.
• Planning for any professional assistance, if needed.
• Making it as easy as possible for them to get around the house. This may mean moving a bed onto the first floor or fitting the bathroom with safety bars.
• Scheduling time off from work when you can visit your loved one to do any chores, drive them to any appointments, or spend time together.
  

5. Be Sure to Check in on Yourself, Too

Caring about someone in short-term rehab can be emotionally and logistically overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. Many people are balancing work, family responsibilities, and their own health, often without much notice, when a loved one suddenly needs rehab after an illness or surgery.

At Marjorie P. Lee, we’re here to help. Our team is here to ease the transition. Our compassionate, well-trained staff deliver person-centered care in a safe, comfortable environment—giving residents and their families confidence and peace of mind for today and tomorrow.

We understand that short-term rehab is often a transitional phase—and sometimes, it reveals that more ongoing support may be needed. The experience can help families recognize when it’s time to consider long-term care options like assisted living, and/or memory care options at a continuing care retirement community (CCRC).

To learn more about Marjorie P. Lee’s short-term rehab, contact Erica Proud, at eproud@erslife.org or 513.871.2019.

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