What is Short-Term Rehab, and How Can It Help You Recover? 

When recovering from an illness, surgery, or injury, the journey back to better health often requires more than just time—it requires the right care and support. Short-term rehabilitation, also known as short-term rehab or sub-acute rehab, is a specialized program designed to help individuals regain their maximum possible strength, mobility, and independence. Short-term rehab is a temporary, goal-oriented program that combines therapy, medical care and social work support to help patients recover from surgery, illness, or injury. It focuses on improving physical, cognitive, and functional abilities through a personalized plan of care created specifically to address your individual needs.

Short-term rehab is often the perfect bridge between hospitalization and recovery. It can be provided at home or in an inpatient rehab center. Health care providers typically recommend it for a range of medical conditions; the goal is to help you regain as much of your strength, range of motion, functionality and confidence as possible.

You might benefit from short-term rehab if you are:

• Recovering Post Surgery: Particularly after orthopedic procedures like hip or knee replacements.
• Healing from an Injury: A fracture, ligament tear, or musculoskeletal damage.
• Recovering from a Stroke or Heart Attack: Focused therapies help rebuild motor skills, speech, cognitive function and stamina.

Your surgeon, primary care physician, or specialist may refer you to a short-term rehab program to further support your recovery.

Where Can You Receive Short-Term Rehab?

Flexibility is one of the key benefits of short-term rehab. Depending on your needs and support system at home, you can receive care in the following settings:

• At Home: Programs like MJHS Home Care bring expert short-term rehab directly to you. This allows you to recover in the comfort of your home with personalized physical, occupational, and speech therapy alongside nursing care and social work support.
• At an inpatient rehab center: Skilled nursing centers like MJHS Menorah and MJHS Isabella Centers provide patient-centered, state-of-the-art therapy, a supportive community, professional care and rich amenities. Inpatient rehab is ideal for individuals who need more hands-on support during their recovery or who cannot recover safely at home.

What Does Short-Term Rehab Include?

Short-term rehab programs are highly individualized and typically include a combination of therapies to address your specific recovery needs and individual goals.

Physical Therapy

Focused on helping to restore strength, balance, and mobility, physical therapy plays an essential role in recovering from surgery, joint replacements, prolonged illness, or injury. Learn more about how physical therapy can help you regain your independence.

Occupational Therapy 

Occupational therapy helps improve fine motor skills to help patients return to performing activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and cooking. If appropriate, occupational therapy can also help patients adapt to new limitations caused by an illness or injury and teach them to use assistive devices like canes, walkers, rollators, or wheelchairs, if needed. Learn more about how occupational therapy can help you improve fine motor skills. 

Speech Therapy

For those recovering from a stroke or other conditions affecting speech, swallowing, or cognitive abilities, speech therapy offers personalized care to help patients communicate and eat safely. Learn more about speech therapy and how it can help improve your recovery process.

Ready to Learn More?

Whether you’re recovering from surgery or regaining skills after an illness or injury, short-term rehab can help you achieve your goals. Speak with your physician or discharge planner about how physical, occupational, and speech therapy can support your recovery journey.

Contact us today to learn how short-term rehab at home from MJHS Home Care or in an inpatient rehab center like MJHS Menorah Center or MJHS Isabella Center can help you or your loved one regain independence, confidence, and strength.