About your rehabilitation
Read what to expect during your patient journey at the State Rehabilitation Service.
Rehabilitation settings
Rehabilitation occurs with different people in a variety of settings, including:
- in therapy areas with a specialist therapist dealing with a specific task or goal
- in a group or individually in a ward lounge, such as doing an activity or socialising
- under the direction of the therapist, nurse or with support people in:
- your room and bathroom undertaking daily tasks of showering, dressing, eating and mobilising
- in the kitchen or dining room doing tasks such as cooking, making simple meals, eating and drinking
- at home or in the community.
Remember, any time you can practice skills you have gained is an opportunity for rehabilitation. The more you practice, the easier it gets.
Patient or family meetings
Depending on your length of stay you may have one or more family (or support people) meetings.
The format is normally as follows:
- Introductions are made, including everyone’s name and role so you know who is responsible for each aspect of therapy. This also allows your team to be aware who your support people are and your relationship with them.
- Your medical staff will talk with you to make sure you understand what has happened and what your injuries are, so please ask any questions you may have or if you need more information.
- Team members will provide an update on what they have been working with you on and your discharge goals. We suggest that you start a list of questions before the meeting so that you don’t forget to ask them.
- Possible timings for your return home (discharge) and what you or your support people need to do to enable this to occur may be discussed. For example, your support people may be asked what kind of assistance they can provide after your discharge.
Goal setting
Goals are an integral part of rehabilitation, and your team will discuss with you the goals you need to achieve to be discharged.
These goals will be printed out and you and your support people will be asked to sign them. Your goals will be reviewed regularly with your team.
Your predicted discharge date will be also set. At the halfway point in your rehabilitation, your progress towards achieving your goals within the expected timeframe will be reviewed.
If you are approaching completion of your goals earlier than anticipated your predicted discharge date will be adjusted accordingly.
If your achievement of goals is not going as well as expected then they will need to be reassessed, including a review of the reason for delay. This may result from illness preventing full participation, unrealistic goal setting or an unwillingness to participate.
In these situations, it may be necessary to consider an alternate discharge plan.
Your rehabilitation timetable
A weekly timetable will be provided at your bedside detailing times for your:
- individual or group therapy sessions
- meetings or appointments you need to attend
- showering (if you need assistance)
- nursing care
- treatments.
Your input into this timetable is important, so please tell your treating team about any preferences we may be able to accommodate.
Please note that these times may need adjusting at short notice.
Please also make sure your support people are aware of your rehabilitation timetable as visitors are not to attend therapy unless specifically requested.
Leave
Going home for leave is an important part of your rehabilitation as it enables you to:
- practise your achievements in your home
- identify issues you may have so that we can readjust your goals and therapies accordingly spend
- quality time with your family and friends.
Leave is usually planned so that it does not interfere with your therapy. The best times are from 5pm Friday to Sunday evening.
Please check with staff if you are eligible for leave and the length of time appropriate for you. This often depends on the treatment you need, any education required prior to your leave or access to your home.
All leave is approved by the team, with the agreed times being 2 hours, a half day, full day overnight or weekend.
Please ensure you follow these leave guidelines:
- leave and return at the agreed times
- advise staff before leaving of the address and phone number of where you are going
- take with you the contact details for the ward and any equipment and medication you may need.
Providing feedback when you return from leave is also vitally important, so please let the staff know how your time at home was and complete any paperwork required.
Going home
In some cases, you may not need to continue receiving rehabilitation as a hospital inpatient.
If this occurs, the focus of your care will change to rehabilitation maintenance after discussion with you and your support people. There is a daily cost for this care and Health Support Services (HSS) will send you an invoice if this occurs.
When you are discharged it may be necessary for one of your support people to be available at home during the first few weeks or longer.
This may be the best time for your support people to take any leave from work and this can be discussed early in the admission with the key worker.