After suffering an acute injury or illness many patients find themselves struggling to get their lives back to normal. These challenges can have serious long term effects on the individual, ranging from physical impairments to cognitive or mental health issues. As a result, early rehabilitation has become an increased focus for medical experts in hopes of reducing these negative effects and improving the quality of life of the patient.
Post-Acute Issues
Unfortunately, many patients continue to suffer from their acute illnesses or injuries long after they’ve left the hospital. These issues will impact the individuals’ way of life by not allowing them to do regular everyday physical activities with their family and loved ones. These challenges can also manifest themselves in the patient’s state of mind. According to a journal posted by the National Center for Biotechnology, up to a quarter of intensive care unit survivors suffer from anxiety and/or depression symptoms. Additionally, a third of these patients also suffer from PTSD symptoms within the first two years after they’ve been released from the hospital.
Patients that spend prolonged time in ICU develop muscle weakness that will prevent them from doing physical activities such as running or even walking. These symptoms worsened when the individual is aged, disabled, or suffers from a chronic illness. Other systems in the body that can be affected by lengthy stays in the ICU include cardiovascular and pulmonary, genitourinary and gastrointestinal, metabolic, and endocrine.
As these hindrances can last up to 5 years, it is imperative that post-acute rehabilitation procedures start as soon as these issues are detected. Better yet, they should begin beforehand while still at the hospital to prevent them from surfacing.
Early Rehabilitation
By starting your rehabilitation process early, you will be able to reduce any negative long term effects caused by your acute injury or illness. Function loss and disability issues are common and early rehab can detect and prevent these issues from getting worse. Beginning early rehab will create a smoother transition back to society and the every-day activities you love. “The ultimate goal is to prevent disability and to avoid the need for long-term care”. Introducing yourself to early rehab will provide many positives not only physically, mentally but also financially.
Benefits
- Improved muscle strength
- Increased mobility function
- Higher quality of life
- Decreased time spent in ICU & hospital
- Shortened time on ventilators
- Reduced hospital fees
- Shorter recovery time
- Reduced long-term care
Moreover, early rehabilitation processes also include benefits for mental health issues patients may suffer from. ICU diaries, early psychological intervention, and post-discharge coping skills have led to reducing anxiety and stress levels among patients along with PTSD.
Improve Your Way of Life with South Coast Post-Acute
Getting your life back to normal is the number one priority, and the sooner you begin your early rehabilitation process the sooner you can get back to the life you love. As a premier post-acute care center in Santa Ana, California, we have a strong commitment to our work and provide a dedicated caring spirit from our skilled nursing community. Contact us today to begin your journey with the recovery center of choice in Southern California.