If you or a loved one have recently had surgery or are in recovery from an injury or illness, you might be wondering whether short-term care is the right next step. Perhaps you are the caregiver for an older adult who is just getting out of the hospital, or maybe you are the at-home caregiver for someone and you need a short-term placement for your loved one. These are all scenarios where short-term care might be in order.
It’s common to have many questions and concerns about short term care, including whether it’s the best choice for yourself or a loved one, what the options are and what to consider as you select the best short term care solution. Here, we’ll go over everything you need to know about short-term care for seniors and short-term care for adults of all ages.
Short-term care involves “services [used] for a limited amount of time to regain what is often referred to as ‘the baseline,’ or status prior to acute event.”
— Tiffany Cunningham, registered nurse and geriatric care manager
What is short-term care?
Simply put, short-term care means any type of temporary care situation, whether it takes place in a short-term care facility or at home. Essentially, short-term care involves “services [used] for a limited amount of time to regain what is often referred to as ‘the baseline,’ or status prior to acute event,” explains Tiffany Cunningham, a registered nurse and geriatric care manager at UT Physicians Center for Healthy Aging.
Short-term care is also sometimes used interchangeably with “respite care.” Respite care is for caregivers of seniors or other adults with chronic health conditions or disabilities who need a break for their mental health, to see family or to attend to other life matters.
Short-term care vs. long-term care
Short-term care is different from long-term care, because it’s meant to be temporary. As the person becomes stronger and recovers, they’re expected to eventually return back to their normal life.
On the other hand, long-term care is generally for people who will need round-the-clock care on an ongoing basis. This may include people with chronic health conditions that make it challenging to function in day-to-day life, disabled individuals or seniors with cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
What are the different types of short term care services?
There are several different types of short-term care services for adults and seniors. According to Cunningham, these may include:
- Rehabilitation facilities.
- Post-acute care centers.
- Adult care.
- Respite care.
- Short-term assisted living care.
- Skilled nursing facilities.
Sometimes this care can also occur in the comfort of your own home, notes Christopher Norman, a board certified geriatric nurse practitioner with Sleepopolis. While short-term care is most often found in skilled nursing facilities and residential care homes, “there’s also the option of arranging home health services for care at the senior’s own residence,” he says.
The same is true for adult care of all types, as many hospitals offer in-home nursing care, such as through “hospital at home” programs. Physical therapists and occupational therapists often make at-home visits, too. However, the type of care offered and the intensity of the care varies considerably from one program to another. Short-term care at home doesn’t typically involve round-the-clock, live-in care.
Who needs short-term care?
In most cases, short-term care is utilized after a hospitalization, says Dr. Pooja A. Patel, an occupational therapist certified in gerontology and the founder of Aging Together. “Most often, it is an older patient who was hospitalized for some medical need, whether a GI issue, cardiac issue, infection, fall, surgery, etc. and needs rehabilitation before they can return to their home safely due to things like weakness, poor balance or cognitive decline,” Patel describes.
But short-term care isn’t just for older patients. According to Cunningham, short-term care may also be used by anyone who is:
- Recovering from a serious illness.
- Recovering from surgery.
- Recovering from an injury.
- Needing transitional services after a hospital stay.
People who need short-term care are usually “evaluated by therapy providers in the hospital and recommended for continued rehab in order for the patient to receive therapy, nursing care and medical oversight until they’ve improved to safely return home,” Patel explains.
Goals of short-term care
The goal of short-term care is to spend about two to three weeks (or more, as needed) receiving care “that helps one become stronger and more medically stable in order to eventually return back to their own home in some capacity, either independently or with support,” Patel describes.
In other words, short term care is for people who aren’t able to function independently just yet, but who are expected to make a recovery in time — and with skilled help — so that they can return home. Additionally, in the case of respite care, it may be used until a regular caregiver can return or step in.
Things to consider when choosing short-term care
Deciding on a short-term care facility can feel like a weighty choice. After all, you want the best for yourself or the person you care for. You want to ensure that you or your loved one will recover well, and be treated with care and respect.
Norman shares the following tips for making the best choice:
- Consider the specific health needs of the person entering the facility, and make sure the facility is equipped and properly staffed to provide this care.
- Check the staff’s qualifications.
- Look at resident-to-caregiver ratios.
- Inquire about on-site medical availability.
- Visit the facility and note aspects like cleanliness, safety and accessibility.
- Read reviews and talk to other families who have used the facility.
- Take note of the facility’s location relative to other family members who are involved in the person’s care.
- Understand the costs and insurance options involved.
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The bottom line on short-term care
If you or a loved one needs short-term care, it can be stressful to understand all the options and pick the type of care that works best for you. Often, decisions about short-term care happen during times of crisis, like after injuries, illnesses or hospitalizations.
“Caregivers often worry about the quality and customization of care in short-term facilities,” Norman says. “They also may be concerned about how their loved ones will adjust to a new environment (even if just for a short time), especially older loved ones with cognitive impairments.”
It’s vital to educate yourself about short-term care options, but you should also remember that there are experts out there to help guide you along the way. You shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to your medical team for help and advice. You can also ask your doctor for a referral to a care manager or a social worker who works with patients who need short-term care.
