Approval for Discharge from the Rehabilitation Center
Your loved one is not able to leave the facility until there is a safe and suitable discharge plan in place. There are many people that help in the planning, execution, and final approval of the rehab discharge. Interdisciplinary team members include:
- A social worker — He or she coordinates the entire discharge process, ensuring that the details are worked out and requirements are met.
- A caregiver — The family caregiver should be someone who knows the family member well and can offer them their best treatment.
- A physical or occupational therapist — This person is responsible for providing the therapy to treat your loved one and to evaluate their progress, keeping in accordance with insurance requirements and professional standards.
- A doctor — The doctor has the authority to approve of the rehab discharge.
- A nurse — This is oftentimes the head nurse of your loved one’s unit. They will assist in the education of the caregiver regarding medications and other care issues.
In many cases, your loved one being home is best, but only when it is appropriate and works well for everyone involved. There are many things to consider while arranging your affairs and getting approval for discharging a patient. For instance, the individual must go to a setting in which they are ensured to be properly taken care of. These places include:
- Returning home, in which no help is required
- Returning home, in which help IS required from a family caregiver
- Returning home, in which help IS required from a home care agency
- A long-term care setting, such as an assisted living or nursing home
Ideally, the setting should have a telephone, not require a lot of repairs, and most important of all, be safe and have everything the patient needs to be comfortable.
Finally, once the setting and caregiver are established, then you tell the facility that you would like to discharge your loved one. You will need to meet with a social worker to discuss:
- How much time you are able to devote to caring for your loved one
- How much you are able to pay for care
- Whether you have other commitments that would need to be balanced with this responsibility
- Whether you are going to provide only a portion or all of the needed care
- Whether you need help from a third party
- Whether or not you need to take time off work to care for the individual
- Whether you have any limitations to providing care, such as health problems or an inability to lift heavy weights
- Any other concerns that you or the social worker might have about your role as a family caregiver
There is a lot to consider and it will take time to plan this all out. Tell the interdisciplinary team if you think you are not prepared to care for your loved one on your own. The friendly staff at Mount Carmel can help you come up with a solution! We are happy to be your guide in the transition and try to make is as smooth as possible. Contact us today if your loved one is going into short term rehabilitation and you have questions about our offerings.
