Lian Tijsen

88 Chapter 4 Table 2. Themes involving rehabilitation processes. Main theme Brief description Sub-theme Description Rehabilitant CRE is suitable for all diagnosis groups. Attention to rehabilitants’ cognitive functioning and resilience and stimulating the self-reliance of rehabilitants are necessary. Characteristics Rehabilitants undergo rehabilitation for different diagnoses, e.g., in the fields of neurology, orthopedics, and trauma. They often have multiple diagnoses and are already experiencing a functional decline in the home situation. They are often not familiar with using technologies to perform exercises. Traditionally, rehabilitants and informal caregivers expect to be taken care of during their stay at the rehabilitation ward, and they do not expect to have to perform daily tasks themselves. Cognitive aspects Often, rehabilitants suffer from cognitive problems or delirium. Besides already existing cognitive problems, cognition may decline as a result of the life event or diagnosis for which they are receiving rehabilitation. Neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression or disrupted stimulus processing occur as a result of a neurological condition. It is important to be aware of these symptoms, as they can affect the rehabilitation process, but also acknowledge that this is an often underexposed and, as a result, under addressed aspect during rehabilitation. Adapting rehabilitation to the needs and learning style of the rehabilitant is important, and professionals must be aware that information and exercises must be offered in different ways. Resilience Rehabilitants’ resilience is often low, especially at the beginning of the rehabilitation process. Rehabilitants and informal caregivers need to understand and learn to deal with this. For balance, it is important to create rest moments for rehabilitants, and therapies must be spread out over the whole week, not just provided during working hours. Participants acknowledge this but have difficulty determining how much rest a rehabilitant needs and how to best provide it. Self-reliance Although all participants consider it important that rehabilitants have self-management abilities and take control of their rehabilitation, not all rehabilitants are able to do this from the start. To be able to take control, rehabilitants must know what the possibilities are and have the opportunity to practice on their own as well as carry out their own planning. Rehabilitants’ motivation can be improved if they know what is expected of them and what they are working for.

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