General Rehabilitation & Elderly Respite
The General Rehabilitation service is for people over 65 years of age, normally resident in the South Eastern part of the city, assessed by a geriatrician as requiring a period of rehabilitation.
General Rehabilitation is provided in one of our more modern units, in a combination of single, double, five and six bed bays. Patients are usually brought here from St. Vincent’s University Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospital or St. Columcille’s Hospital,
but some come directly in from home or from our Day Hospital. Patients must be medically stable before they can come to the RHD. In the event of a significant medical emergency, patients are bought to St. Vincent’s A&E
Patients are assessed as required by our multidisciplinary team of nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech and language therapists, dietitian and clinical psychologist. An individual treatment
plan is devised, which is dependent on the needs and ability of the patient. This treatment programme is implemented and reviewed and updated weekly by the team.
Rehabilitation can last for three or more months but, on average, 80% of patients are back home within 70 days. Even where someone is unlikely to return home, rehabilitation can help to enhance their self-care skills or mobility in a nursing home.
Where a patient may be able to cope at home, the multi-disciplinary team will often undertake a pre-discharge home visit, (either with or without the patient), to see how they cope in their own house. This is an important opportunity for the patient
to see what difficulties they may face and for families to address important questions.
Patients can go home for periods during rehabilitation, with the agreement of their consultant.
Where a patient is unable to cope at home, the social work team will help to identify a suitable placement.
Once discharged, patients may be brought back to our Day Hospital, usually for one day a week, for further treatment and to monitor progress.
For further information on the general rehabilitation service, please contact:
Mary Mae Salomon, Clinical Nurse Manager, General Rehabilitation, 01-4066783 or rehab@rhd.ie