Drake Center: Specialized Medical & Rehabilitative Care

 

 

Transitional Living Suites

Where patients and families practice for the return home

Today’s patients are being sent home from the hospital sooner than in the past. They — as well as their families — know their medical conditions may require some significant adjustments in their lives. At Drake Center, these adjustments are eased with the help of Transitional Living suites. These homelike, accessible apartments are used in patients’ treatment programs in two ways: as a place for a realistic practice stay, and as a setting for practicing daily living skills without a stay.

Bridge to home: a realistic practice stay — for inpatients

When appropriate, the last days of an inpatient stay can actually be spent in a Transitional Living suite on the inpatient nursing unit. With goals established by the team, the patient and family members can live here for one to two days to practice and assess self-care and caregiving skills.

The patient’s way of life may have changed because of a medical condition. A Transitional Living suite stay helps determine if the person is ready to go home and also eases the transition. Drake Center’s treatment team — in cooperation with the patient and family — establishes clear goals for the stay.

The patient manages his or her daily routine as independently as possible. He or she can live in the suite alone or with family members who want to practice around-the-clock caregiving. Call buttons can be used to get emergency help with any situation or to request medications at scheduled times.

The stay can pinpoint areas in which the patient need to progress before returning home. The patient, family members, and staff can also solve problems related to patient care.

A homelike setting for practicing daily living skills — for inpatients or outpatients

A Transitional Living suite is also available for selected therapy sessions only. During these sessions, the therapist can work with the patient on new approaches to practical living skills, and the patient can reinforce techniques learned in earlier therapy. These skills may include mobility in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and other areas; meal planning and preparation; and home management.

The Transitional Living suite is also the setting where a patient who is paralyzed or has very limited motor skills may practice using an environmental control unit (ECU) with the therapist’s guidance, to see how it might help in the patient's own home environment. An ECU is a switch-activated system that allows an individual who is paralyzed or has limited movement to perform essential tasks without having to call for assistance.

An approach that works

Whatever the patient’s and family’s needs, the Transitional Living suite can serve as an invaluable bridge between care at Drake Center and the patient’s return to the community.

Call for more information

Inpatient: 513-418-2593
Long-distance (toll-free): 800-948-0003 (ext. 2593)

Outpatient: 513-418-2798
Long-distance (toll-free): 800-948-0003 (ext. 2798)