More than 40% of hospitalizations are of people aged 65 or older. And for many older adults, being discharged from acute care doesn’t mean their recovery is complete. Oftentimes, it means taking the time to regain strength after a surgery or learn to manage a new health condition at home independently. When seniors need additional support transitioning from the hospital to home, a transitional care unit may be just what they need.
Transitional care units (or TCUs) provide short-term medical and rehabilitative care that supports a safe recovery. Here at East Adams Rural Healthcare (EARH) we offer a swing bed program that functions as a transitional care unit, allowing local seniors the care and support they need to regain independence while being close to home.
Learn More About EARH Transitional Care
If you or someone you love needs support in recovery, here’s how transitional care units like ours help seniors heal safely after spending time in a hospital.
Why Transitional Care Units Are Crucial for Older Adults
A transitional care unit is a healthcare setting that supports patients who are medically stable but still need time to recover before they are ready to return home. The senior might not need long-term nursing care in a dedicated facility, but they also don’t need round-the-clock acute care found in a hospital.
Still, these individuals could benefit from rehabilitative services like physical therapy or skilled nursing services for something like wound care. For many seniors, a TCU is the best next step after a hospital stay.
Discharge doesn’t always mean full recovery. Seniors who are recovering from surgery, an illness, or an injury might still need help regaining their strength, relearning daily skills, or managing new health conditions. Without this much-needed support during the recovery process, they face a higher risk of:
- Hospital readmission
- Falls or further injuries
- Medication complications
- Loss of independence
Transitional care provides continuous medical monitoring and therapy while helping seniors work toward personalized recovery goals.
When is a Transitional Care Unit the Right Fit?
Not sure if transitional care is the right next step for yourself or a loved one? It might be a good option for seniors who are recovering from:
- Joint replacement or orthopedic surgery
- Stroke or cardiac event
- Complications from chronic conditions like COPD or diabetes
- Injuries from falls
- Serious infections like pneumonia
When a patient is stable but still needs support, a TCU can be a much-needed bridge between the hospital bed and going home.
What Services Are Provided in a Transitional Care Unit?
Transitional care units provide a range of services designed to support someone recovering from surgery, accident, or a prolonged illness. These services will typically include:
- Skilled nursing care for tasks such as wound care, IV therapy, and managing chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease
- Medication management to ensure prescriptions are accurate, up to date, and taken safely, especially after changes during hospitalization
- Rehabilitation therapies, including physical therapy to rebuild strength and mobility, occupational therapy to help with daily tasks, and speech therapy for communication or swallowing issues
- Nutritional support to help seniors maintain energy, strength, and proper healing through custom meal planning and dietary guidance
- Care coordination that works with primary care providers and specialists involved in the recovery, to keep everyone on the same page
- Discharge planning to prepare the senior for a safe return home or to transition to another facility, including support for caregivers and follow-up services
The units will design each person’s care plan around their unique needs and goals. For seniors, that often includes a focus on fall prevention, increasing mobility, and regaining independence in daily tasks like bathing, dressing, or cooking. The goal isn’t just to recover, it’s to recover well and get back to living life as fully and safely as possible.
Are Swing Bed Programs and TCUs the Same Thing?
Rural communities like Adams County often have limited access to facilities like transitional care units. EARH and other rural hospitals can fill in this gap with swing bed programs that operate like a transitional care unit within the hospital. Patients who no longer need acute hospital care but aren’t ready to go home may be able to instead stay in our hospital in a Medicare-covered swing bed.
Swing beds offer many of the same services as a TCU, including skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, and personalized recovery plans. Plus, because we are a part of the local community, patients often get care from familiar, friendly faces, and families don’t have to travel far to stay involved.
The biggest difference between our swing bed program and a transitional care unit is that when you recover with us, you don’t have to transfer to another facility. You stay in the same familiar setting with our compassionate medical team, right here, close to home.
Supporting a Safe Transition Home
At East Adams, a TCU goes beyond recovery in the hospital—we’re already thinking ahead and planning for a safe and confident return home. We take time to explain the patient’s condition and medications in plain language, so they know what to expect and how best to manage their health on their own.
We also work closely with families, offering hands-on guidance for caregiving tasks they may need to take on at home.
Before patients are discharged, we coordinate follow-up appointments with the patient’s primary care provider and arrange referrals for home health care or outpatient therapy when needed.
Every step we take in our transitional care team is designed to help reduce stress, promote independence, and help patients return home confident in their ability to care for themselves on their recovery journey.
Ready to Learn More About Transitional Care at EARH?
EARH believes that everyone deserves a supportive recovery process close to home. Our swing bed program functions as a transitional care unit designed to meet the unique needs of seniors. When you aren’t quite ready to leave medical care behind, we’re ready to help.
If you or a loved one is facing a hospital stay or recovery, talk to our care team about whether transitional care could be the best next step and if you qualify for a Medicare-covered swing bed in Ritzville.
Learn more about our transitional care services or call our team today for more information.
