Post-hospital rehabilitation of neurological conditions. What should you do?
Ośrodek Rehabilitacji Neurologicznej NORMAN
Therapy results
What patients say about us
At some point, hospital rehabilitation comes to an end. Unfortunately, at this stage most patients are still left with neurological deficits – both physical and psychological – that call for specific action, namely starting professional neurological rehabilitation.
At first, doctors save the patient’s life; later, after discharge from hospital, the patient and their family are most often left to fend for themselves. What matters most here is knowing what to do, what steps to take and what can be achieved through post-hospital neurological rehabilitation – for example in terms of regaining walking and balance. This awareness makes it possible to take the decisive action described below.
Post-hospital rehabilitation – when should you start looking for rehabilitation?
To begin with, it is worth pointing out that being accepted into a post-hospital rehabilitation centre – whether under the national health service or even privately – immediately after a hospital stay is becoming increasingly difficult. That is why it is worth seeking help the moment a loved one is admitted to hospital, by calling specialist centres or searching online. In the first days of a hospital stay it is hard to think of anything other than the injured loved one, but it is very important to take action as early as possible.
Post-hospital rehabilitation – outpatient care
Outpatient rehabilitation programmes involve visiting a physiotherapist several times a week, who works with the patient for around one to two hours. In this type of rehabilitation, the daily journeys to the centre or clinic are certainly a drawback. Therapists have different qualifications, so it is worth paying attention to whether the physiotherapist has experience of working with neurological patients. It is important to be aware that this is completely different work from that with orthopaedic patients, and after all we want results and the most effective possible use of time, especially in the early period, when there are no contraindications to rehabilitation.
Post-hospital rehabilitation – in the patient’s home
Rehabilitation at home has the advantage that we do not have to transport the patient to a clinic or rehabilitation centre every day. The drawback, however, is the lack of suitable equipment, which is most often not mobile enough for the therapist to bring along. Providing the patient with a physiotherapist who comes to their home is an ideal way to “get through” the wait for a residential rehabilitation stay at a centre.
Post-hospital rehabilitation – at a residential rehabilitation centre
Post-hospital rehabilitation in the form of a neurological rehabilitation stay with accommodation and meals is the best solution for a person with a neurological condition. The sessions take place on site, and the specialists have complete facilities for delivering professional rehabilitation and are most often specialists in various fields of rehabilitation, which offers a broader range of help for the person being treated.
Remember to choose a centre that has a team of specialists working with neurological methods, supported among others by a speech and language therapist and a neuropsychologist.
At this stage there is no longer any need for direct, constant contact with a doctor. Patients taking part in post-hospital rehabilitation always have the consent of their attending physician to begin physical rehabilitation. Their medication is also managed by the attending physician. Very effective in the neurological rehabilitation of people after strokes, of those living with multiple sclerosis, and of children with cerebral palsy, is rehabilitation after a stroke.
Post-hospital rehabilitation at the NORMAN Rehabilitation and Medical Centre
Patients arrive at the NORMAN Rehabilitation Centre in Koszalin in a wide range of conditions. Acceptance at the NORMAN centre is not based on a preference for patients with a better prognosis of success – no patient referred for rehabilitation is turned away, even one who is bedbound, because rehabilitation of a bedbound person is possible. People with reduced responsiveness are also accepted. There are various rehabilitation methods, which have to be tailored to the patient’s current condition and capabilities. That is why the centre employs a team of physiotherapists, each of whom specialises in different therapeutic methods.
The centre’s guiding principle is to give every patient a chance to recover. The staff’s experience shows that even very severe cases, in which patients had been given no hope, turned out to be treatable and could be rehabilitated to a certain, achievable degree. Everything, however, depends on the individual predispositions of the particular patient.
The centre also welcomes patients whose difficulties have lasted for many years. In such situations it is hard to speak of the spectacular results sometimes seen in post-hospital rehabilitation immediately after the event, but they often achieve visible progress. It turns out that, where health is concerned, the distance to the rehabilitation facility is no barrier at all. The number of patients from the most remote corners of Poland, as well as from Europe and the rest of the world, is proof that patients and their families find the right place for themselves and their loved ones, even thousands of kilometres from home.
One of the centre’s greatest strengths, and at the same time an important psychological aspect, is the involvement of loved ones in the therapy during a rehabilitation stay. For 25 years, the NORMAN Rehabilitation and Medical Centre has been organising rehabilitation stays that patients attend together with their carers.
Read next
Loss of speech after a stroke. Aphasia and the role of the speech therapist in the therapy process.
Aphasia after a stroke is the loss of the ability to understand and produce speech. We explain the types of aphasia, the role of the speech therapist and the directions rehabilitation can take.
Read more →
Can every stroke patient be rehabilitated?
Whether rehabilitation after a stroke is possible depends on the patient’s health, the time since the event and the right choice of therapy. We explain when rehabilitation is possible and how to find the right course of action.
Read more →
When should rehabilitation after a stroke begin?
Early rehabilitation after a stroke usually starts on the neurology ward, but its scope and pace always depend on the patient’s condition and the doctor’s decision.
Read more →
Stroke – brain areas and the effects of brain damage.
The brain is the source of our identity, intellect and emotions. Here is a short guide to the different areas of the brain and the deficits that can arise when they are damaged by an ischaemic stroke.
Read more →
Stroke – emotions, mood and depression
A stroke can damage the brain structures responsible for regulating emotions and mood, which is why depression, anxiety, motivation problems and difficulties with rehabilitation can appear afterwards.
Read more →
Stroke symptoms: how to recognise them and how to respond?
Recognising the symptoms of a stroke quickly and calling for help immediately can save a life and reduce the risk of lasting complications.
Read more →
Spinal cord injury vs spinal cord stroke. What is the difference?
A spinal cord injury and a spinal cord stroke are two distinct conditions with different causes, prognosis and potential deficits. We explain the key differences and the typical consequences of spinal cord damage.
Read more →
10 most common mistakes made by neurological physiotherapists.
Karolina Łozińska describes the most common mistakes made during neurological therapy and the working principles that help to avoid them.
Read more →
Memory loss after a stroke. What it involves and what can help.
Memory loss after a stroke can involve difficulty remembering words, recognising places and learning new things. We explain what can help in everyday functioning and therapy.
Read more →
The next step
Let's talk
We are here to answer any questions you may have about the rehabilitation process.
Describe your case
Send us the details of the patient's condition and we will assess them from a therapeutic perspective.
Email consultation
Write to us describing the condition and the patient's current state of health. We will reply with our view of your situation in the context of rehabilitation.
Video of the patient
You can send us a video showing the patient's current condition. We will respond to your situation and explain the therapeutic options available.