Rehabilitation admissions
Contact details
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Introduction
Our rehabilitation program is tailored to met the needs of adolescents with acute or chronic medical illness or symptoms that impact their ability to function at home, school, and in the community.
We focus on the whole person, their strengths and goals, while addressing both physical and psychological symptoms.
About the rehabilitation program
The rehabilitation program provides a therapeutic environment for adolescents with acute and chronic illness to develop self-management skills, autonomy, independence and improved symptom management.
The average length of a rehabilitation admission is 12 days and is followed up with an Outpatient review and ongoing management where needed.
During the admission, we aim to assist young people to return to a normal routine while learning to manage their symptoms. The outcomes we aim for includes:
- symptom control
- increased levels of function
- resumption of normal activity
Our unit provides an empathic and encouraging environment to manage the symptoms. This is complemented by the emotional support provided by parents and family members when they visit.
The care team
The care team might include:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Clinical psychologist
- Occupational therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Artists
- Teachers from the Hospital School
Getting the most out of the admission
Approaching the admission with a willing attitude and commitment to full participation in therapy sessions, medical investigations or interventions will provide the best outcomes.
Young people are expected to participate in the daily routine including:
- following sleep and wake-times
- attending Westmead Hospital School
- participating in group activities
- participating in physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions
- attending individual counselling and family therapy
The adolescent groups, youth arts programs, and hospital school provide time for creativity, leisure, learning, and for interaction with other young people in the hospital.
The group activities help to build routine, balance activity and rest as needed, and help with the transition back to home and school life.
Family meetings
Thursday afternoon family meetings
We will let you know the exact time and location of the family meetings.
It is essential that parents attend weekly meetings with the team. These meetings include opportunity for:
- providing feedback about your child's progress
- addressing any concerns about the program
- planning the next week’s program
In some cases, other family members will be asked to attend these meetings as well.
Discharge planning meeting
The family meeting in the final week of the admission will be a discharge planning meeting.
This is an opportunity to plan for the adolescent’s return home, including ways to maintain the routine of school attendance, physical activity, social and leisure time.
The treating team will discuss plans for outpatient follow-up and appointments will be provided.
The role of parents
Parents are an essential part of the young person’s support team in the rehabilitation process.
Their role includes:
- encouraging the young person’s compliance with their timetable.
- visiting at the end of the day after scheduled activities have been completed.
- regular communication with the care team.
Visiting times and gate passes
During the week, visiting times for parents and other visitors will be from 4pm to 8pm each day.
This allows the young person to increase their independence and to attend school, group, and other activities in an uninterrupted way. It also provides respite for parents and other carers.
On weekends, gate passes are available, allowing parent/s to take the young person out of the hospital for half or full days. This provides a break from the hospital environment and allows the young person to practice their new skills in a different setting.
What to bring to hospital
- clothes to wear each day (pyjamas can only be worn at night)
- shoes and slippers (footwear is required at all times)
- toiletries and personal care items
- your favourite pillow and/or doona/blanket
- schoolwork and books.
Please do not bring expensive items to Hospital as we cannot guarantee their safety.
You are welcome to bring a mobile phone, though if usage impacts the program or treatment, we may ask you to take them home.
Going home
On discharge, we will:
- provide a timetable to follow to support recovery at home
- liaise with the young person's school in preparation for return to class. This includes a plan for a gradual return to class, rest breaks, and provision of quiet areas for catch up work. If necessary, we will arrange a school visit.
- organise appointments with Adolescent Medicine weekly to fortnightly until return to school. This includes individual and family meetings with the Psychosocial team, Occupational Therapist and/or medical review.
- in some cases, such as when a young person is from a rural area, we will arrange ongoing care and support with the services in the local community.