Suffering a stroke, serious illness or injury that takes away your ability to engage in everyday activities can be scary. But starting rehabilitation as soon as possible can set you on the road to recovery.

Rehabilitative treatments are provided in many different settings. Each patient is unique, so each patient’s healthcare team devises a treatment plan and recommends a setting that will best meet that patient’s needs.

Inpatient rehab is often recommended for people who can participate in and benefit from intense rehab therapy but still require 24/7 nursing care.

“Think of inpatient rehab as being the space between the hospital and your home or the community,” said Angie Eaton, director of post-acute therapy services at Aultman Inpatient Rehabilitation, located at Aultman Woodlawn. “We work to get you strengthened and back to a more independent setting.”

A Typical Day in Inpatient Rehab

With inpatient rehab, each patient collaborates with their care team to set recovery goals and develop a personalized plan for success. The care team may include physicians, nurses, therapists, dietitians, social service professionals and respiratory therapists. Families are also involved in the patient’s recovery.

Here’s what a typical day in inpatient rehab at Aultman Woodlawn is like.

Rise and Shine

Each morning, patients get cleaned up and ready for breakfast. They may sit up to eat in their private room or go to the dining room to chat with other patients who have become friends during their stay in rehabilitation.

A physician visits each patient to see how they are doing and find out what each patient needs. A nurse may visit multiple times throughout the day to teach patients about their medications and how to take care of their health even with physical challenges.

Each patient may have one or two therapy sessions before lunch. Patients in inpatient rehabilitation participate in individualized occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy each day for a total of three hours per day, five days per week.

“At Woodlawn, patients practice skills in rooms like the ones they have at home, such as a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen,” Eaton said. “Patients can also work on getting into and out of a simulated car. We have a grocery store area where they can practice reaching for and picking up items from shelves at various heights. We even have a courtyard for therapy when the weather allows.”

Work and Relax

Patients enjoy lunch in their room or the dining room. Patients may also have more therapy sessions. Depending on their individual needs, they may work on walking and climbing stairs in physical therapy, bathing and dressing in occupational therapy, and communication and thinking in speech therapy.

“Families are invited to come in to observe therapy and see their loved one’s progress for themselves,” Eaton said. “We also help families prepare their home for their loved one’s return and teach them how to support continued recovery.”

There’s free time in the afternoon to slow down and do something fun – such as read, play games or work on a puzzle – after a full day of therapy.

Wind Down and Rest

After dinner, patients can visit with family and friends – and even brag about how well therapy is going. Then it’s time for a good night’s sleep to prepare for another day of recovery and recuperation.