River Garden short-term rehabilitation is designed to bridge hospital to home – focusing on a fast recovery and personalized therapy for a safe return to your community or home.
Short-Term Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing:
- Seamless transition from hospital to home
- Focus on restoring your ability to return home safely
- Personalized care and recovery plans
- Dedicated one-on-one therapy sessions
- Comfortable private rooms with cable, Wi-Fi and phone
Therapy Services Include:
- Physical Therapy (PT): Restores strength, balance, and mobility to improve safe movement and independence
- Occupational Therapy (OT): Builds skills for daily living through adaptive strategies, cognitive support, and environmental modifications
- Speech Therapy (ST): Enhances communication, swallowing, and cognitive abilities for improved quality of life
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose River Garden if my doctor recommends a different facility?
Yes. Under federal Medicare discharge planning rules, patients and families have the right to choose the skilled nursing facility they prefer for a Medicare-covered stay. The hospital is required to provide a list of Medicare-certified facilities in the area, but is not permitted to require the patient to use a specific facility. Ask the hospital case manager or discharge planner to contact River Garden directly.
What is the difference between inpatient and observation status, and why does it matter?
Inpatient status means a physician has formally admitted a patient to the hospital as an inpatient. Observation status means the patient is being monitored but has not been formally admitted. This distinction matters because Medicare Part A only covers skilled nursing facility care following at least three consecutive inpatient nights — observation nights do not count toward this requirement. If there is uncertainty about a patient’s hospital status, families should ask the hospital’s patient advocate or case manager to clarify before discharge.
How do I arrange a short-term rehabilitation admission?
Contact River Garden’s admissions team at 904.260.1818. The team works directly with hospitals and discharge planners to coordinate admissions, often on the same day as hospital discharge when needed. Families can also request River Garden by name directly with the hospital case manager.
What is short-term rehabilitation at River Garden?
Short-term rehabilitation at River Garden in Jacksonville, Florida helps people recover after a hospital stay, surgery, illness or injury so they can return home safely. Each person receives a personalized recovery plan, one-on-one therapy sessions and a private room with cable, Wi-Fi and phone. Call (904) 260-1818.
What types of therapy does River Garden offer during a rehabilitation stay?
Short-term rehabilitation at River Garden in Jacksonville includes three core therapies:
- Physical therapy for strength, balance and mobility
- Occupational therapy for daily living skills
- Speech therapy for communication, swallowing and cognition
What conditions does River Garden treat in short-term rehabilitation?
Short-term rehabilitation at River Garden in Jacksonville treats a wide range of conditions, including:
- Orthopedic care, including joint replacements, fractures and spinal procedures
- Neurological conditions, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease and MS
- Post-surgical recovery
- Chronic conditions, including arthritis, COPD and cardiac concerns
- Mobility and strength restoration
- Amputee rehabilitation with orthotics and prosthetics
- Speech and swallowing disorders
How often will I receive therapy at River Garden?
Therapy sessions during short-term rehabilitation at River Garden usually run two to five days per week, and each session lasts 30 to 60 minutes. The exact schedule is set by the personal care plan.
How long is a short-term rehabilitation stay at River Garden?
The length of a short-term rehabilitation stay at River Garden depends on the person’s medical condition, therapy goals and rate of progress, and there is no fixed timeline. After an assessment, the River Garden interdisciplinary team builds a personalized care plan with functional milestones. Residents are discharged when they can safely return home or move to the next level of care with the necessary support services in place.
How is a rehabilitation care plan created at River Garden?
Every rehabilitation care plan at River Garden starts with an initial assessment by an interdisciplinary team that includes medical, nursing, social work, dietary, life enrichment and therapy staff. The team then designs a custom plan that sets personal goals, functional milestones and goals for discharge.
Does insurance cover short-term rehabilitation at River Garden?
Insurance coverage for short-term rehabilitation at River Garden varies by insurance provider and plan type. River Garden is a certified Medicare provider, and River Garden staff verify coverage before service begins. Checking with the insurance company again during the course of care is also helpful.
Can River Garden help someone living with Parkinson's disease?
River Garden in Jacksonville provides a continuum of care for people living with Parkinson’s disease, including short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, adult day services and outpatient therapy. The interdisciplinary team builds personalized care plans that address mobility, safety and daily function.
What happens if recovery takes longer than expected?
River Garden provides short-term rehabilitation and long-term nursing care on the same Jacksonville campus. A person whose recovery takes longer than planned can move to the next level of care without leaving River Garden. The Admissions Office can review options at (904) 260-1818.