How Does Restorative Nursing Care Work?

When health issues reduce your or your loved one’s ability to do essential daily tasks, restorative nursing might be right for you. Restorative nursing takes each person’s daily routine, abilities and desires to create a plan to help maintain and rebuild lost functionality. It’s more than just a course of care – it’s a path to freer living every day.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Resident Assessment manual, restorative nursing is any “nursing intervention that promotes the resident’s ability to adapt and adjust to living as independently and safely as possible.” Read on to learn more about this definition, the difference between this and rehabilitation, and how restorative nursing can help.

Examples of Restorative Care

What does restorative nursing actually look like in the real world? The most common use for restorative nursing is helping seniors relearn everyday skills. For example, an older adult who has trouble walking due to stroke or injury is often a prime candidate for restorative care programs. Even in cases where restoring functionality isn’t possible, restorative nursing is used to prevent further decline in bodily ability.

Here’s an important distinction to note. Restorative nursing is not rehabilitation. Rehabilitative therapy occurs at a faster pace and on a smaller scale of time. And it’s mostly done in reaction to a health event – like helping an older adult recover from surgery or injurious fall. Conversely, restorative nursing is often a years-long process that focuses on maintaining and improving function. It is usually in response to chronic health issues or loss of ability through disuse.

To get a caregiver’s perspective on restorative nursing care, read this post from Relias.

Why is Restorative Care Important?

Restorative nursing is a crucial element of senior care plans across the country for one simple reason – it works! It can be easily understood as the medical application of a common idiom – “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” It’s not just a pithy phrase, it’s practical advice for addressing the progressive health issues that come with age.

For people looking for the right provider for themselves or a loved one, finding a quality restorative nursing care program can make a big difference. It doesn’t just impact the length of life, but also your quality of life and ability to enjoy each day. When done well, it can impact not just your physical health, but also your mental and social well-being.

Does Medicare pay for restorative care?

Yes. Depending on the community and your means, you may be able to use Medicare for restorative nursing care. Restorative nursing care plans are usually offered in skilled nursing or rehabilitation centers, many of which accept public medical coverage.

Find Better Care at Metropolis Rehabilitation & Health Care

At Metropolis Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, our team of care professionals will work with you, your family and your physician to create a personalized care plan to meet your goals. That’s how we’re able to offer services as diverse as psychiatry, neurology, nephrology, physiatry and gerontology. Our approach to restorative nursing focuses on your priorities to enable happier, more independent living.

Ready for more? Reach out to our team online or by calling 618-524-2634.