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Making the choice between recovering at home or at short-term care

Going home to recover after a stay in the hospital may seem to be the logical choice but it may not be the wisest choice. It is important to talk with your physician and family to determine whether recovery should happen at home or in a short-term rehabilitation center. Medline Plus suggests seriously considering the following factors as you make a decision about where to recover.

Barriers
When thinking about recovering at home, consider the challenges that may be present. Steps into the home and steps within the home can be difficult to navigate. If you will be using a wheelchair or walker for a time, consider whether the doorways and hallways are wide enough to allow you to move the special equipment through them. In many homes, the distance between the bathroom and living areas can be considerable. Making that trip as needed can be exhausting after a hospital stay.

Mobility
The ability to move can be dramatically affected following a hospital stay. Simple tasks like getting out of bed, rising up from a chair or stepping into a shower may be more difficult. If there is not someone present at all times to help with these issues, there is a danger of falling or injury. Being afraid to move because you have no one to assist you can actually slow your recovery. An important component of recovery is physical therapy, which is needed extensively with experienced therapists and, preferably, in a therapy gym with the proper equipment.

Self-care
Daily care tasks like getting dressed, taking a shower, shaving or brushing your teeth can be challenging when you are recovering. Many people need help with putting on socks, tying shoes or reaching for clothing in a closet. Unless there is someone available to help with these tasks, home recovery may not be the best option.

Medical care
It is important to be vigilant concerning taking medications, caring for a wound and other issues after a medical event. If you will not be alert enough to attend to these important instructions, you could develop new complications. Family members and friends may offer to help but they may not have the medical training needed to properly apply a compression bandage or to clean a wound. It is also possible that your existing medical conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure, that were under control before your hospital stay will become more difficult to manage during recovery. Worrying about uncontrolled medical issues can increase stress levels and slow recovery.

Consider short-term care
When thinking about recovery options, be sure to include staying in a short-term care facility where there is round-the-clock competent care in a safe, easy to navigate environment. One of the preferred choices for recovery is Glenview Terrace where individualized care is offered in a comfortable environment.

The Rehabilitation Pavilion at Glenview Terrace, with its own private entrance and therapy gym, delivers outstanding services and clinical outcomes, making it one of the top choices on the North Shore and the recipient of Medicare’s highest five-star quality rating.

While recovering at Glenview Terrace, each guest receives personalized care to fit their needs from a caring staff. You can be assured that medications are delivered in a timely manner. One-on-one physical, occupational and speech therapy are offered up to seven times a week. All guests have access to state-of-the-art equipment in Glenview Terrace’s gyms. Compassionate staff offer the encouragement and positive reinforcement needed to move you toward your goals.

Using expert care and sophisticated techniques, Glenview Terrace offers an aggressive blend of traditional and advanced rehabilitation services to get you quickly back on your feet. It has the tools and equipment on site to meet specific needs including video fluoroscopy, Doppler studies and X-rays. The professional staff can deliver expert pain management, respiratory and intravenous therapies and manage all existing conditions like diabetes. Instead of hoping that you are doing everything correctly, you can rest easy knowing that your care is top-notch.

Glenview Terrace delivers this care in an elegant setting that begins with beautifully landscaped grounds and continues into the spacious, well-appointed rooms. Guests can enjoy nutritious meals served in elegant dining areas or in their rooms. Guests can also choose to relax in their rooms with a stunning array of amenities and services to pamper them, including attentive concierge service.

When deciding whether to recover at home, be sure to consider the many advantages of a stay at Glenview Terrace where the goal is always to help get you back to the independent lifestyle you desire. For additional information or to arrange a tour, visit glenviewterrace.com or call 847-729-9090.

Copyright © 2018, Chicago Tribune

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