The Role of Swing Bed Rehabilitation in Cold & Flu Season

Jan 9, 2025 | Treatment | 0 comments

Cold and flu season is here. If you’ve been feeling under the weather, you aren’t alone. The CDC estimates that since October 1, 2024, there have been up to 16 million flu cases in the United States. Unfortunately, it’s older adults and people with chronic health conditions who often suffer the most severe symptoms, which can be serious enough to send them to the hospital. There have been between 110,000 and 240,000 flu-related hospitalizations in the United States this season alone. 

For many people, the recovery journey doesn’t end when they leave the hospital. Transitioning from hospital to home can be challenging when recovering from the flu, pneumonia, or another respiratory illness. Swing bed rehabilitation can be essential to your recovery, providing a supportive transition from acute care to at-home healing. 

Learn more about swing bed rehabilitation and how it could help you or a loved one recover from an illness. 

What Is Swing Bed Rehabilitation? 

Swing bed rehabilitation is post-acute care that helps patients transition from hospital stays to recovering at home. A swing bed isn’t a type of bed. Instead, it is the name of a specific care program where patients can “swing,” or transition, from acute care to skilled nursing care. These transitional care programs offer rehabilitation services based on a patient’s needs, whether recovering from a severe case of the flu, complications from pneumonia, or even after surgery. Swing bed rehabilitation creates a space where they can get the support they need for faster, more effective recovery.  

The Role of Swing Beds in Cold & Flu Season

If someone is hospitalized with severe flu or respiratory illness, they might not be ready to return home even if they no longer need acute care. They might not be well enough to care for themselves at home or live in a rural location without access to the necessary care and support. These are great examples of patients who can benefit from swing bed rehabilitation

The swing bed allows them to move out of hospital care and receive skilled nursing care. They might stay in the same facility, and even the same bed, where they received acute care. This keeps them in a familiar environment close to their friends and family. Being in the same familiar, comfortable place can help their emotional well-being during their recovery while reducing the burden of traveling long distances for follow-up care.

For patients recovering from respiratory illnesses, swing bed rehabilitation can help address lingering fatigue, shortness of breath, or reduced mobility. Depending on their needs, patients can receive physical therapy, respiratory therapy, nutritional support, and other personalized care. Recovery happens in a controlled environment where patients can avoid setbacks and regain their independence, restoring their health so they are prepared to return to their daily routines. 

Swing Bed Rehabilitation and Long-Term Well-Being

Swing bed rehabilitation programs are excellent for patients’ immediate recovery after hospitalization for the flu or other illnesses. They also promote better long-term health. Swing beds can prevent hospital readmissions by ensuring patients are fully recovered before returning home. Education and support are integral to swing bed care, giving patients the tools and skills to manage their healthcare independently at home.

For example, patients recovering from respiratory illnesses can learn techniques to improve their lung function and manage underlying conditions. Patients with chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes can get support on maintaining their health and preventing complications in future cold and flu seasons. 

EARH Offers Swing Bed Rehabilitation Services Year-Round

Swing beds can be an excellent resource for patients during the cold and flu season, but East Adams Rural Healthcare offers this personalized care all year. Our swing beds can assist in your recovery journey, whether healing from an injury or surgery or regaining your strength after an illness. With skilled professionals, comfortable facilities, and a commitment to your care, we’re here to help you on the road to wellness. 

Contact us today to explore our swing bed services and prepare for a healthier future. 

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