Community Re-Integration

What is the community re-integration programme?

The community re-integration programme at ABI Rehabilitation is the final phase of intensive rehabilitation. During this time the rehabilitation team works to help prepare clients to return home and to address any barriers that might make this difficult. Rehabilitation sessions will continue to be a combination of one-to-one and group sessions, but their focus will gradually shift to the three aims of the community re-integration phase. The focus is on increasing clients’ independence and confidence in daily activities, participating in their community, and resuming meaningful life roles. The team also works to ensure that the necessary supports are in place before clients are discharged from the facility. Transitioning home may be done gradually, with overnight and weekend visits home before the discharge date.

An important part of rehabilitation

Community re-integration is an important component of our intensive rehabilitation program as many people find that the period of time shortly after returning home can be challenging. Because of the effects of their injuries, clients may find themselves faced with challenges at home due to physical, cognitive or behavioural issues. Clients may also find that they require additional support from others, or encounter barriers in their home environment. The community re-integration phase of intensive rehabilitation is an opportunity to identify the challenges that a client is likely to face when returning home. Solutions and strategies will be developed to help overcome these challenges. Within the supportive environment of the rehabilitation facility, clients will have the chance to practice the skills needed to make a safe and rewarding transition back into their communities.

The aims of community re-integration

1. Increasing independence This means maximising health and well-being by increasing physical strength and endurance, improving the ability to communicate in a range of situations, learning strategies for coping at home and in the community, and being aware of when to ask for help. 

2. Getting back home and into the community This involves setting relevant goals and working together with the rehabilitation team to achieve them. These can include: taking care of household tasks, accessing the community, or returning to social activities. 

3. Having support in place before leaving rehabilitation This involves identifying the best place to go after rehabilitation, providing education and skills training for family-whānau, going home for visits, and establishing suitable supports in the community

How is this phase different?

In the community re-integration phase, clients may move to a different section of the rehabilitation facility that will allow more independence. There will be less input from support staff, as the client and/or their family-whānau take more responsibility for daily tasks. As the planned discharge date approaches, rehabilitation sessions are likely to include activities out in the community. This gives clients the opportunity to work on transferring the skills learnt through rehabilitation into real life.

How can families-whanau help?

A client’s transition home may go more smoothly with the input of their family-whānau. Here are some things families can do to help: • Give the rehabilitation team details about the client’s home environment and social situation, especially things that may influence a successful return home. • Give honest feedback about the client’s progress and any issues that may come up, especially following home leave or outings in the community. • Come along to rehabilitation and education sessions, and learn skills that can support the client once they’ve left rehabilitation.