Inpatient rehabilitation at Salem Health

Real-life therapy environments

Practice apartment

The goal of inpatient rehabilitation is to prepare patients to live independently, even with long-term disabilities. To help patients adjust and practice in a realistic setting, our inpatient rehabilitation program has designed home-style rooms, including a bathroom, a bedroom, a kitchen and a living room.

Therapists demonstrate–and patients practice–many common activities of daily living, such as:

• Getting in and out of a tub, safely.
• Reaching high kitchen cupboards from a wheelchair.
• Loading a dishwasher.
• Getting up from a soft sofa and bed. 
• Using a washer and dryer from a wheelchair.
• Cooking and cleaning safety.

The practice apartment provides a realistic environment for our doctors and therapists to assess a patient’s readiness to return home.

Therapy courtyard

To further assist in patients’ recovery, the outdoor therapy courtyard includes slopes, stairs, outdoor furniture (including a built-in bench), pea gravel, lawn and planting tables. The courtyard is a safe and serene private place for patients to learn to adjust to different surfaces, improve large and small motor skills and work with new equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers or canes.

Located in the center of the rehabilitation unit, the therapy courtyard offers a respite for family and friends of patients as well.

Gym

Our specialized rehab gym allows patients to improve their strength and coordination during their stay. In addition, practice equipment for navigating stairs and other daily situations helps build patients' confidence. 

Dining

We work to ensure mealtimes are a safe, supervised and structured activity where our trained staff can model and observe swallowing, if necessary.

We also provide an opportunity for patients to practice ordering meals and learn swallowing precautions with their family members. Our staff strive to provide support to reduce anxiety, increase independence and facilitate a safe transition home.