Community Rehabilitation

Community rehabilitation services are provided by a licensed physical therapist or occupational therapist to clients who require acute, chronic, palliative or rehabilitative support. The main goals of rehabilitation therapy are to help improve or maintain physical and functional abilities and to provide assessment and treatment to ensure a client’s home is suitably arranged for their needs and safety. Generally, community rehabilitation services will be provided on a short-term basis and the community rehabilitation therapists will assist you and your family to be confident in taking over your care at home.

Community rehabilitation services, which include physical therapy and occupational therapy, may be provided in a variety of settings such as clinics, the client’s home, assisted living residences, family care homes, group homes, or other community settings.

Is this care right for me?

Services are available on a non-emergency basis for individuals in the following circumstances:

• following discharge from an acute care hospital;
• at home or in a clinic setting to prevent or reduce the need for hospital or emergency department services or admission to a long-term care home;
• because of a life-limiting illness; or
• to meet time-limited acute rehabilitation needs.

What are the community rehabilitation eligibility criteria?

You are eligible for community rehabilitation services if you meet the general eligibility criteria for home and community care services, your assessment for home and community care services determines that you would benefit from the service, and you meet all of the following criteria:

• Care can be provided with reasonable safety, within established standards, policies, and guidelines for rehabilitation practice.
• Staff are adequately prepared to manage any of your specialized rehabilitation functions and/or technological needs.
• Your behaviour and/or home environment does not jeopardize the safety of the community rehabilitation staff. Potential risks have been assessed and any necessary risk mitigation strategies can be successfully implemented.
• You/your family agree to participate in self care activities as appropriate, considering such factors as:
• current health and functional status of both you and your caregiver;
• interest and ability to manage your condition;
• willingness to participate in activities identified in the care plan;
• participation in planning for discharge from the services;
• mobility;
• specialized technology needs; and
• You/your family have agreed to provide or arrange for ongoing care and support between visits of the rehabilitation staff.

If you require community rehabilitation services, the three-month residency requirement (in the general eligibility criteria for home and community care services) does not apply to you. Your health care professional can provide you with more information.

To read the general eligibility criteria for all home and community care services, go to:

• Are You Eligible?

How do I arrange for community rehabilitation services?

If you are interested in receiving community rehabilitation services or know of someone who might be in need of these services, you can contact the home and community care office of your health authority or you can have a health care professional make a referral on your behalf.

For contact information and a detailed description of how to arrange for community rehabilitation services, please see:

• How to Arrange for Care

Is there a cost for community rehabilitation services?

There is no cost for community rehabilitation services but there may be a cost for items such as equipment except for the first two weeks of time-limited acute services and/or during the time a client is receiving end-of-life care.