What is Rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation helps older adults do as much as possible in their daily lives. It does this by:

• Providing skilled care to help a person get back or keep their abilities.
• Teaching people to use helpful tools, like technology, for daily tasks.
• Offering services to prevent or slow the loss of abilities.
• Encouraging older adults to take an active role in their care and manage their own health.

Why Rehabilitation is Important for Older Adults

Many older adults have health conditions that can lead to disability. Rehabilitation often helps them do more in their daily lives.

Rehabilitation teams include specially trained doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists. The team does a full review of the older adult’s needs. The doctor is in charge of the care plan. The patient and their family or care partners are also part of the team and help shape the plan.

Rehabilitation Care Sites

Rehabilitation services can be provided in many places, depending on an older adult’s needs and abilities.

Subacute Rehabilitation

An older adult with several medical problems who cannot do 15 hours of therapy in 7 days in a row may need less intensive care at a skilled nursing facility. Medicare Part A pays for daily skilled therapy for 20 days in full. It covers up to 80 more days with a copay. This coverage usually requires a hospital stay of at least 3 days (2 midnights) as an inpatient. Other insurance plans may have different requirements. A doctor must supervise care and be available around the clock for emergencies.

Home Therapy

Medicare offers home health benefits for older adults who cannot easily leave their home and need skilled nursing or home health aide services on a part-time or occasional basis. Physical, occupational, and speech therapies are available through Medicare-approved home health agencies. Other insurance plans may have different rules for coverage.

Outpatient Rehabilitation

Medicare Part B covers outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies. These are available at independent clinics, hospital-based clinics, and outpatient rehabilitation centers.

Older adults use outpatient therapy for new or ongoing pain in muscles or joints (such as muscle strains or low back pain), balance problems, or low energy and endurance. They usually receive services 1 to 3 times per week. These services are for people who need skilled care to improve or maintain their physical abilities.

Emergency Department

Rehabilitation professionals can play an important role in the emergency department for older adults. Starting physical therapy early is linked to better outcomes and shorter hospital stays.

Hospice and Palliative Care

In palliative care (comfort care), rehabilitation professionals focus on improving the older adult’s comfort and quality of life. Physical and occupational therapists can help manage pain, support safe transfers, reduce fall risk, and teach older adults and care partners how to use medical equipment properly (like assistive devices).

In hospice care, rehabilitation professionals work with the care team to manage symptoms such as pain and trouble breathing. Changing positions, clearing airways, teaching transfer methods, and helping with swallowing can benefit older adults who are dying and their care partners.

Last Reviewed and Updated: October 2026
By: AGS/HiAF Public Education Committee, HealthinAging.org Content Reviewers