What are Rehabilitation Services?

Rehabilitation services are mental, psychological, and physical health programs created to ease recovery from certain conditions. There are two major types of rehabilitation services: addiction recovery and injury recovery. Injury recovery typically involves physical therapy geared toward regaining strength, movement and fitness, as well as some psychological therapy to help trauma victims deal with the aftereffects of tragedy. Addiction rehabilitation services are meant to help people with physical or chemical addictions learn to control their problem.

Physical rehabilitation services are often recommended by a physician after a severe injury, operation, or long illness. In the case of a traumatic injury that has left a person with paralysis or even loss of limbs, physical therapy can go a long way in easing the path to an adapted lifestyle. Patients undergoing physical therapy perform stretches, lift weights, and do mild exercise under the supervision of a medical professional.

Some insurance programs will cover physical therapy rehabilitation as a part of medical coverage. Often, a patient will need to secure a reference from a primary care physician within his or her coverage network in order to have some or all of the cost covered by health insurance providers. Check carefully to see what is covered under medical plans; some rehabilitation may include alternative therapies, such as chiropractic and therapeutic massage, that may or may not be covered.

Rehabilitation services for addiction are quite diverse in method and facilities. For many addicts, the recovery process may begin at a rehab clinic that specializes in his or her addiction. Rehab clinics are typically in-patient facilities that recommend a stay of at least one month. Here, recovering addicts will attend meetings, talk with counselors, and work to determine the best plan for staying away from drugs or alcohol once their stay is over. Rehabilitation services at clinics may vary with the price of stay; some clinics are state-run institutions with bare comforts, while private clinics cater to celebrities and millionaires by offering gourmet meals, pools, and luxury rooms.

In addition to inpatient recovery programs, some rehabilitation services are meant to quickly remove the drugs or alcohol from a patient's body. Called detox or rapid detox, patients may be given medicine that will expel the drugs from their bodies without some of the side effects of withdrawal. Undergoing preliminary rehabilitation services such as detox will allow the patient more time to focus on beginning the recovery process.

Many rehab clinics offer halfway houses or outpatient services to patients who have completed an inpatient program. Recovering patients may share housing and hold daily meetings with other recovering addicts to maintain a support system. Continuing therapy and attending addiction support groups is usually recommended even for patients that are doing well in recovery.