Rehab at home after hospital: Healthcare services for recovery

Key takeaways

• In many cases, it’s important that rehabilitation continues after you leave hospital, especially for older people.
• Qualified allied health professionals can provide support in your home.
• Rehab at home may include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology and nursing.
• Every therapist offering services through Mable is verified as having professional registration.
• You don’t need a referral or to join a waitlist to connect with an allied health professional through Mable.
• Payment can be made by credit card, direct debit or NDIS or Support at Home government funding, if you are eligible and these types of support services are included in your plan.

Leaving hospital after surgery, injury or illness can come as a relief, especially knowing you’re heading home to familiar surroundings. But in many cases, recovery still continues after discharge. For older Australians, this can be quite common as many still require post hospitalisation care.

If you’re in this position, or you’re caring for someone who is, you may think your only rehabilitation option is clinic-based rehabilitation. But this can come with its own challenges. It may involve leaving home when you’re still tired, in pain or adjusting to a new level of mobility. For family members, it may involve arranging transport, managing appointment times and coordinating support. These extra steps can add pressure during an already stressful time.

There is an alternative that may allow you, or your family member, to recover in comfortable surroundings. Rehab at home healthcare services may allow you to find support that fits around your needs, energy levels and daily routine.

Through Mable, you can arrange rehab at home services with qualified and verified allied health professionals. This includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and psychologists.

If this option is new to you, this article will guide you through the process of arranging self-funded rehab at home healthcare services.

It’s important to note that private rehab at home is different from state based Hospital in the Home programs or Out of Hospital Care Programs. These programs are usually short-term, have eligibility requirements and are generally arranged through a hospital or health service.

How does rehabilitation at home work?

Rehab at home means receiving therapeutic support at home from qualified allied health professionals for recovery. For example, they could help you with rebuilding strength and mobility after surgery, or with speech and communication after a stroke.

Rehab at home healthcare services support recovery where daily life happens. It’s where you move between rooms, use the bathroom, prepare meals and get in and out of bed. When a therapist provides support in your environment, they can personalise strategies for your home setup, rather than a clinic room.

Another advantage of in-home rehabilitation is that it may reduce the need to travel to appointments at multiple locations. This can be especially helpful after surgery, a fall, stroke or cardiac event that has affected strength, balance or confidence. Instead of using energy to travel to and from appointments, you can focus on your recovery session.

In-home rehabilitation may also help keep recovery moving in a steady way after discharge. By arranging support at times of the day when you have the most energy, you may be able to get more out of your exercises or other forms of therapy.

For older Australians, continuing rehabilitation can be especially valuable as between 34% and 50% of older people experience functional decline in hospital. As many as 30% of people aged over 70 return home with a reduced ability to perform their usual daily living activities. Continuing rehabilitation at home may help you or the person you care for keep working on strength, movement and everyday routines.

What type of in-home rehabilitation support is available?

Different allied health professionals support different parts of recovery. Through Mable, you can connect with independent allied health therapists who offer post hospital care.

Rehab at home health care services through Mable include:

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy may help a person rebuild strength, improve mobility, reduce pain and regain physical function after a hospital stay. For example, a physiotherapist may design exercises to support balance, practise safe transfers, or help someone build the strength needed for everyday movement at home.

A physiotherapist may support someone after a:

• Hip or knee replacement
• Fall or fracture
• Cardiac event
• Procedure that has affected movement
• Hospital stay that has reduced strength, balance or confidence.

Physiotherapists offering services through Mable must have current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registration that has been active for at least 12 months.

Occupational therapy

An occupational therapist may be relevant when a hospital stay has affected a person’s independence with daily living tasks. They can help people re-learn or adapt daily activities after hospital, such as getting dressed, preparing meals, moving around the home safely or using equipment.

They may also help when a home safety review is needed as part of discharge planning. An occupational therapist can suggest practical changes to the home environment, recommend assistive equipment, or help the person practise daily routines in a way that feels safer and more manageable.

Occupational therapists offering services through Mable must have current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registration that has been active for at least 12 months.

Speech pathology

Speech pathology may support people who have experienced changes to their communication or swallowing after a stroke, neurological event, surgery or other health condition.

A speech pathologist may help with:

• Speech and voice changes
• Language and communication
• Swallowing difficulties
• Strategies supporting safer eating and drinking
• Communication confidence after a health event.

Speech pathologists offering services through Mable must be registered with Speech Pathology Australia.

Psychology

A hospital stay can affect more than physical recovery. Some people may feel anxious, frustrated, low in mood or uncertain about changed routines and independence. This type of support may be especially relevant for people managing the emotional impact of a significant health event or new diagnosis.

Psychology support may include counselling to help with emotional adjustment to changed circumstances, or behaviour support.

Psychologists offering services through Mable must have current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registration that has been active for at least 12 months.

Nursing and personal care support

Clinical nursing support can help with needs such as wound care, medication management and vital signs monitoring. Personal care support can help with daily routines such as showering, dressing, meal preparation, transport and general support around the home.

Together, these supports may help make post hospital rehab aged care feel more manageable.

What should you look for when choosing an in-home therapist?

Choosing the right therapist is important as it can help you, or the person you care for, feel more comfortable and confident. This may make it easier to stay engaged with therapy routines and keep working towards recovery goals at home.

When comparing in-home therapists, it may help to consider their:

• Qualifications and professional registration
• Experience with your condition, surgery or recovery goal
• Reviews and feedback from other clients
• Availability and location
• Communication style and approach
• Willingness to arrange a meet and greet before ongoing sessions begin.

Through Mable, every allied health therapist is verified to ensure they’re registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or other relevant professional body before they can offer support.

Each allied health professional’s profile on the Mable platform also includes information such as qualifications, services, experience, reviews, interests and indicative rates.

You can use more than 70 search filters to find someone with the right skills, including by service type, location and qualifications.

Can you arrange in-home rehabilitation through Mable?

You can arrange rehab at home through Mable without a referral or joining a waitlist by finding a support worker on Mable and entering into an agreement with them. The process is designed to help you connect with the right therapist or independent support worker, agree on support details and manage ongoing support sessions in one place.

Step 1. Connect with a therapist or support worker

You can create a free Mable account and then post a job ad for private post-hospitalisation care and wait for responses. Or you can browse local therapist profiles directly, filtering by service type, location, qualifications, interests or other details that matter to your recovery. For example, you may search for a physiotherapist after knee surgery, an occupational therapist for home safety support, or a speech pathologist after a stroke.

Step 2. Book a session

Once you’ve found someone who may be suitable, you can agree on rates and session timing directly with the therapist or support worker. Or you may like to arrange a meet and greet session first to get a feel for their communication and support style before booking.

Every session booked through Mable includes support worker insurance covering the worker’s actions while providing care. Exclusions apply.

Step 3. Manage ongoing support

After support begins, you can schedule sessions, manage bookings and make payments in one place in the Mable platform. This can make it easier to keep track of sessions and costs, either for yourself or the person you care for.

Payment can be made by credit card, direct debit or NDIS or Support at Home government funding, if you are eligible and these types of support services are included in your plan.

Post-hospitalisation care that comes to you

Recovery takes time, but having the right support in place at home can help make the process feel safer and more practical.

You don’t need to wait for a clinic appointment or go through the referral process to arrange private rehab at home. Through Mable, qualified and verified therapists are available to provide support in your home as you recover.

Whether you need physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, nursing or personal care, you can browse available workers through Mable and choose the right fit for your needs.

Sign up for free to book a therapist or allied health worker through Mable, or browse worker profiles to find your right fit.