A Guide to Senior Rehabilitation Centers

As people age, they become more susceptible to accidental injuries and medical emergencies that can result in hospitalization. Current studies show that about 17% of seniors aged 65 and older have been hospitalized during the year, a rate more than double that of adults aged 45 to 64. Additionally, seniors in this age group are more likely to require post-treatment rehabilitation care, with nearly 70% requiring rehabilitation compared to 23% of middle-aged adults.

Senior rehabilitation centers focus on providing medical care and skilled nursing services that help patients make a full post-treatment recovery. This guide introduces senior rehabilitation centers, explores who might need rehab care and gives an overview of typical services and care types. It also addresses the cost of care, where to find financial assistance and how to choose a rehab facility.

A senior rehabilitation center helps those with an injury or medical condition recover and reduce pain post-hospitalization. Rehabilitation centers can assist in recovery by providing services such as physical, occupational and speech therapies or skilled nursing and wound care.

For many seniors, it is difficult to recover back to their pre-hospitalization state without rehab care. Seniors without a close support network may not have access to the necessary recovery care at home. This is where senior rehabilitation centers come in for many older adults. Current data shows that seniors 65 or older have a nearly 70% chance of requiring some sort of long-term care or support. Commonly, seniors enter rehab for conditions such as: 

• Post-surgery: After surgery, seniors often need additional support to tend to the wounds and encourage the healing process. They may also need physical therapy to return to the level of strength they had before their hospital stay.
• Neurological event: Neurological events, such as strokes, can lead to a range of long-term effects, such as slurred speech, limited range of motion or paralysis. According to the American Heart Association, strokes account for about 1 in 21 deaths in the United States, which makes it the fifth most common cause of death. Recovery often requires physical and speech therapy, which rehab centers can offer. 
• Falls: According to the National Council on Aging, falls affect one in four senior Americans each year, with U.S. emergency rooms treating 3 million seniors for fall injuries every year. As bones become brittle with age, they may break or become displaced, leading to chronic pain and potential disability. This greatly increases the need for support during recovery.
• Chronic conditions: Chronic health conditions  disproportionately affect seniors, with nearly 95% diagnosed with one and about 80% having two conditions or more. Some chronic conditions can significantly impact other areas of a senior’s health. Seniors can receive managed treatment at a rehabilitation center to help them recover if their chronic condition is preventing them from functioning.
• Other acute events: Seniors may require rehabilitation for a variety of other reasons, including injuries and illnesses that aren’t expected to cause long-term problems.

Senior rehabilitation centers offer both inpatient and outpatient rehab in a variety of settings. Centers can exist within a skilled nursing or nursing home facility, within a hospital, or rehab can be administered independently in a home health care setting. Furthermore, care can be either a short-term or long-term solution. Doctors will recommend different configurations of care depending on individual needs.

Seniors who go to inpatient rehab are admitted to a facility for a temporary stay where they can receive medical care. It’s typically reserved for serious injuries or when treatment requires intensive therapies. Inpatient therapy may be suggested for conditions such as:

• Broken hips or other fractures
• Impinged nerves
• Joint replacement or injury
• Neurological conditions including stroke recovery
• Cancer 
• Arthritis of the spine 

Outpatient rehab offers therapeutic treatments to improve mobility and quality of life for people who are well enough to function independently at home following an injury or illness. In outpatient treatment, seniors spend less time in therapies and don’t have access to the same amenities as inpatient residents. Seniors will also be responsible for maintaining certain care guidelines provided by their doctor while at home.

Short-term rehab is designed to achieve a goal, usually provided after surgery, injury or illness that should improve with time. Typically, it lasts for weeks to months, with the intention to end treatment at a determined date. Seniors may receive wound care, medication management and therapies designed to improve their overall ability to function. This therapy often involves:

• Physical therapy to restore function and relieve pain
• Occupational therapy to prepare seniors for proper self-care

In a long-term care situation, the goal is comprehensive treatment and management. It involves personal care, medical care and therapeutic services for people with conditions that limit them from functioning on their own.

While each senior rehabilitation center will vary in the exact services it provides, some services are common to all centers. These services are provided on an as-needed basis rather than by request.

• Physical therapy: Physical therapy is the process of using exercises, massages and physical movements to encourage healing. It’s most commonly used for pain relief, injury or illness, or strengthening muscles damaged from misuse.
• Occupational therapy: Like physical therapy, occupational therapy is designed to reduce pain and strengthen muscles. However, it also focuses on prevention techniques and equips seniors with the tools to complete practical tasks in their daily lives. It can also teach seniors how to use assistive devices to restore independence.
• Speech therapy: For seniors, speech therapy is meant to improve functional communication and cognitive skills. It also assists with safe swallowing techniques and may introduce dietary modifications as necessary. The goal is to help seniors learn how to speak again if an injury or illness, such as a stroke, impedes their abilities.
• Personal care assistance/ADL assistance: ADLs are activities of daily living. These are tasks necessary to function independently, such as meal prep, grooming, bathing and toileting. In rehabilitation centers, seniors can receive assistance with these tasks.
• Social services: Rehabilitation centers may also provide seniors with access to social services, which can help prepare them to return home with necessary support. This may include filing applications for Medicare or Medicaid or setting up home care services.

Senior rehabilitation can occur in many different settings, depending on needs, budget and insurance coverage, as well as a physician’s recommendation. People who need more intensive care may require a skilled nursing facility while other people may be able to receive home health care.

Skilled nursing facility: Skilled nursing is care that requires licensing and training to provide. It’s usually rendered in a medical setting with supervision from a doctor, and offers the same level of care seniors could get in a hospital. However, it’s meant to be transitional, with an end goal of sending seniors home when they’re well enough.

Assisted living community: Some assisted living communities also offer rehabilitation as one of their features. These may be available only to the residents of the community or to people in need of somewhere to recover temporarily before returning home. 

In-home rehab after a hospital stay: Seniors not requiring skilled nursing care may benefit from in-home rehabilitation after being discharged from the hospital. This involves having therapists and licensed nurses come to a senior’s home to provide supportive medical services. This could include wound care, catheter management, IV therapies or various types of physical treatments.

The cost of senior rehabilitation depends in part on the location from which they receive their care. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, nursing home care averages $7,908 per month for a semiprivate room. A private room costs an average of $9,034. Those using home health care for their rehabilitation can expect a national median monthly cost of $5,148 while a stay in an assisted living facility averages $4,500. 

Of course, these prices aren’t set in stone. Costs can vary based on where a senior lives and the specific services they need. These numbers can look intimidating, but there are resources available that can help cover the cost. 

The cost of senior rehabilitation is often expensive, but there are also resources that will help pay for necessary medical care, including access to these services.

Medicare offers various plans, which may or may not cover the cost of rehabilitation. Original Medicare doesn’t typically cover senior rehabilitation. However, other Medicare plans such as the Medicare Advantage Plans or other Medicare Health Plans may provide some coverage.Medicare Part A will cover nursing home or skilled nursing facility care if it is medically necessary, as prescribed by a medical professional. However, it won’t cover custodial care, which provides assistance with activities of daily living. To be eligible for Medicare Part A, you must be 65 years or older or have a qualifying disability. Qualifying applicants who receive disability benefits for 24 months will automatically be eligible for Part A. If you are filing based on age, you must pay premiums and also enroll in Part B.

One way you can receive assistance with rehabilitation costs is through Medicaid. Medicaid will cover nursing home facilities, including rehabilitation care, based on medical need and income. The regulations each state imposes for coverage varies, so be sure to check with local Medicaid offices to understand coverage. Eligibility requirements vary by state, but generally require a financial and medical need for care.

Veterans Benefits may provide partial financial assistance for rehabilitation care through programs such as the Aid & Attendance Benefit. Eligible candidates include elderly veterans who are homebound and in need of assistance. It also covers care for veterans in a nursing home due to disability or a loss of mental or physical abilities.

PACE is a joint Medicare-Medicaid program available in specific PACE organization service areas. While the primary goal is to keep seniors out of nursing homes, it does provide an allowance for in-home and home health care, allowing seniors to receive therapies and skilled nursing from their place of residence.

To be eligible, seniors must be 55 or older, live within an approved service area, qualify for nursing home care and be capable of living at home safely. 

Some conditions that would require rehabilitation are considered disabilities, and as such, may qualify a senior for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To qualify for SSDI, you must be insured, meaning you’ve paid enough into Social Security taxes from earnings. It pays out for people with qualifying disabilities. SSI pays out for people who have a qualifying disability and limited income and resources.

While this won’t directly cover the cost of rehabilitation, the funds can be used to cover a portion of them.

SHIP does not directly offer coverage for care, but it can help seniors navigate the Medicare program to understand what they qualify for and receive the most assistance possible.

Picking the right senior rehab center doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When completing your search, these are some of the factors you should consider:

• Research your options thoroughly: Before choosing a facility, do your research. Figure out which ones meet your or your loved one’s needs and ask around for more information from people who have had loved ones admitted. You can also take a look at Medicare ratings to determine if a center is the right fit.
• Evaluate the specialty of the facility: Some facilities will specialize in one type of care that they emphasize above others. Which facilities offer and/or specialize in the care you’re looking for? Make a note of these for later and cross off any that don’t offer the services you’re looking for.
• Consider privacy: Some centers will offer private rooms while others will have semiprivate. Consider whether having a private room is a requirement and plan accordingly. 
• Check for staff training and qualifications: Take a look at the background of the people associated with the facility. Are they well-trained and experienced? Do they have any qualifications that make them particularly attractive as a provider? 
• Research facility reputation: Every facility will have some sort of reputation and knowing what it is can give you a general idea of the care that will be provided. Check out reviews online through places like Medicare or Google and see what people have to say about that particular facility. Also take a look at any special accreditations that the location may have.
• Consider treatment plans, therapies offered and care frequency: What will the care offered look like? Most rehab facilities will have a highly developed treatment plan that will involve several different medical professionals, including therapists, physicians and nurses. Ask about the type of care you can expect and how frequent it will be before committing.
• Weigh amenities and additional services: While this may not be a major concern for everyone, knowing what kinds of amenities the facility offers can also be a deciding factor. These could include opportunities for socialization as well as access to nonmedical services such as a social worker.