Inpatient Guide

Welcome to Walton Rehabilitation Hospital! During your stay, you and your family will be involved in a variety of activities designed to mimic your normal day-to-day activites at home. We highly encourage your family members and caregivers to participate in your ongoing rehabilitation process.

What to Expect

Your stay begins with an initial evaluation by your physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, your health care team and you to identify your goals and help meet your needs, to ensure your greatest independence in returning home and getting back to work or school.

Starting Your Day
Every morning begins with retraining in grooming and dressing skills. Be sure to check your individual schedule and dress comfortably for your therapy sessions.

Patients are encouraged to eat all meals in the dining room as part of the rehabilitation process. If able, you should walk or use your wheelchair as you participate in hospital activities. If you need help, rehabilitation aides are available.

Daily Therapy
Each patient will complete a minimum of three hours of therapy a day, five days a week. There may be morning, afternoon or early evening sessions, with breaks to rest and eat. Where most sessions are individual, others are conducted with several patients with a similar diagnosis.

Therapies can include activities to improve your strength, mobility, self-care skills and cognitive skills. In addition to scheduled therapy sessions, nursing staff reinforces patients' newly learned skills by having you and/or your family participate in your care during non-therapy hours. Evenings are a very important time for the nursing staff to teach you and your family additional skills you will be using at home.

Preparing for Discharge
Before you go home, your therapist will perform an evaluation to identify any obstacles that might interfere with your safety or ability to function at home (stairs, for example). Your case manager will arrange a formal session of family training with your family and the health care team. This will better prepare your family to assist you when you leave Walton.

Your case manager will also discuss any needed followup services with you. Patients may also benefit from continued outpatient therapy, support groups, pain management, behavioral medicine and assisted and independent living options available through Walton. It is important that you discuss your needs with your case manager.

When you leave the hospital, you will return to the care of the physician who referred you to our program and you may continue to see your physical medicine and rehabilitation physician if needed.