Rehabilitation is care that can help you regain, retain, or improve the skills you need for daily living. You may have lost them due to illness or injury, or as a side effect of medical treatment. Instead of considering this as a failure, unmet goals can be used for a discussion of what could be a realistic outcome for the person's rehabilitation and to guide challenging discussions about expectations versus reality. A term and acronym to underpin, remember and support the rethinking of goal-setting actions and activities, with potentially greater relevance to rehabilitation.
Goal setting is important for rehabilitation because it can motivate the patient, especially when they are functional and relate directly to real-life activities. Goal-setting is used to direct rehabilitation interventions toward a specific outcome (s) and can result in greater client satisfaction and better recovery. Rehabilitation is largely person-centered, meaning that the interventions and approach selected for each individual depend on their goals and preferences. A meaningful goal can maximize patient participation and motivate them to participate in rehabilitation to achieve their goals.
Another primary goal of short-term rehabilitation is to help patients achieve their best personal levels of recovery and rehabilitation as soon as is medically safe and possible. Rehabilitation is an important part of universal health coverage and is a key strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The table below is from The Learning Corp and is an excellent demonstration of how to take initial patient or client statements and turn them into practical and measurable objectives. This comprehensive treatment, therapy and care help ensure consistent progress toward your recovery and rehabilitation goals.
Restoring function and independence lost through injury, illness, surgery, stroke, or other medical events is one of the primary goals of short-term rehabilitation. Goal-setting helps health professionals plan their interventions for what is best or most meaningful to the patient, rather than what is best for health professionals (when there are differences). The support of a rehabilitation provider to help the veteran establish, work and achieve rehabilitation goals helps build confidence and a sense of hope for the future. There is a growing body of literature devoted to the underlying theories, methods, and evidence for goal setting in rehabilitation.
To achieve this goal, you'll work with a multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals to first identify your individual therapy and treatment needs, and then address those needs through a personalized treatment plan. While the time it takes varies from patient to patient, your rehabilitation team will work to help you recover and return to your life in the shortest possible time, another goal that is met by intensive, comprehensive, and highly personalized treatment plans used in short-term rehabilitation programs.
