Almost Home Swing Bed Program

To be a candidate for Almost Home

• Patients have recently had joint replacement surgery and need daily therapy

• Patients had a stroke and could improve their level of capability function with continued daily therapy

• Patients are recovering from a heart attack or acute episode of congestive heart failure

• Patients with an illness or disease who need strengthening or nutritional therapy

• Patients recovering from major surgery or an accident

• Patients with wounds that are not healing and need special care

Physician Oversight and Nursing Care

Physician oversight

Medical needs are managed by an internal medicine physician based at the hospital. The hospitalist is available on-site every day to provide oversight and direction for your medical care, nursing care and therapy.

Nursing care

You will have a private room with 24-hour nursing care. You are encouraged to wear your own clothing and bring items from home to make your stay more comfortable. Our nursing team members will assist you as you progress along your path to recovery. In addition to guidance with your daily care needs, our skilled nursing services include the following:
 

• IV antibiotics
• Tube feedings and nutritional stabilization
• Application of dressings
• Instructions and care for wounds and ulcers
• Medication administration and instruction
• Patient education for insulin administration, blood sugar testing and diet management
• Instructions for ostomy or stoma care

Case Management and Insurance Plans

Case management: The case manager provides case coordination, discharge planning, and assessment of social needs. The case manager partners with clinical providers to assess your overall progress throughout your stay.

Insurance plans to serve your health care needs: local residents. We deliver region-leading, high-value health care to the families and communities we serve. Many health insurance plans have chosen HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital as a preferred provider, so you have a choice in your health care. Our team of experts can assist with the verification of insurance benefits and the authorization process.

Activities

We strive to provide fun and enjoyable activities during your stay in our Almost Home program. At the beginning of your stay, the occupational therapy department asks you about your interests and hobbies and creates a plan based on your preferences. Individual activities are offered daily. A wide variety of activity items are available, including:

• Board games, cards and puzzles

• Word searches, crossword puzzles and Sudoku

• Needlework and crafting supplies

• Painting and drawing supplies

• Movies, novels and magazines

• Radio, books, and audio books

Group activities are offered twice weekly to provide interaction and entertainment. The nursing and therapy department work together to communicate and find items that will help you feel a little more at home.

Occupational therapy can:

• Improve upper body strength and coordination

• Address safety issues with mobility in the context of daily tasks and within the home environment

• Provide adaptive equipment education and training

• Offer self-care training, such as dressing, bathing, grooming and feeding

• Teach complex daily tasks, including meal preparation, money management, driving skills and homemaking

• Address decreased sensation issues, including safety

• Teach patients how to maintain functional mobility during daily tasks, such as showering, toileting and homemaking tasks

• Enhance memory, attention span, problem solving and decision-making skills

• Provide family and/or caregiver education and training

During your stay, you will participate in therapy to achieve your functional goals, which may include:

• Increasing strength

• Improving balance and coordination

• Transferring safely to an automobile, toilet, bath, etc.

• Performing activities of daily living, such as  bathing, cooking and dressing