Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers before you begin your rehabilitation journey.

Find answers to common questions about referrals, inpatient care, outreach therapy, assessments, therapy sessions, goal planning, length of stay and life after Ascot Rehab.

Getting started

Referral, assessment and choosing the right pathway.

How can I be referred?

If you are a self-pay patient, you will need to be referred to us by your consultant. We also accept referrals from Health Insurance companies, Legal Firms, Embassies and Governments. Please see our page on Referrals.

How do I know if I need outreach or inpatient care?

Your consultant should advise if you are well and able enough to receive therapy at home through outreach, or if you would be better off coming to the Neurorehabilitation Centre for a length of time depending on your needs and requirements.

Patients who stay at Ascot Rehab not only come for therapy but also to recuperate in a safe and welcoming environment, enjoy the cuisine and facilities, and be looked after by a friendly and professional team.

If you would like an independent assessment either at home or at the centre, this can be arranged.

Can I come and visit before I make a decision?

Of course, we’d love to show you around. We can also arrange for a one-day assessment at the centre to see the facilities, meet the team and enjoy lunch and/or afternoon tea. The report will be sent to your consultant.

Inpatient care

What to expect during a stay at Ascot Rehab.

Is it all inclusive?

A typical stay will include your private room with en-suite shower room, a daily choice of cuisine and refreshments, toiletries and towels, daily housekeeping and laundry service, nursing care and weekly neurotherapy.

Any prescriptions, diagnostic tests, ambulance transfers and any costs related to the centre such as telephone calls, reading material on request, extra meals for friends and family, or bolt-on services such as taxis and spa treatments are not included.

What happens during your first week as an inpatient?

Our neurotherapy team will assess you during your first week to determine your rehabilitation programme, bearing in mind your abilities, fatigue levels and your goals. We see assessment and getting to know you as a crucial foundation for your rehabilitation.

It is important to remember most people will not see large improvements in their first week here. We aim to be honest and transparent about your potential for progress and the improvements we expect you to make. Rehabilitation is about working together towards your goals for the best possible outcomes.

Weekly timetable — what does it include?

There is no typical week at the rehabilitation centre, or as an outreach patient, as programmes are bespoke and will vary for each person. Each week you will receive a timetable showing your therapy schedule and suggestions for exercise out of therapy hours.

Whilst you will be encouraged to spend your free time constructively, following exercises or strategies for therapy, patients should bear in mind that neurotherapy can be extremely tiring and sufficient rest is essential as part of your rehabilitation path.

Length of stay

Getting back into life after an injury to the brain or spinal cord, or severe physical illness, often takes a long time. Rehabilitation often involves learning to do things in a different way and compensating for your difficulties.

People’s length of stay at Ascot Rehab will vary according to their needs. It can be as short as two weeks, but may span a few months. Some people attend the centre full-time, whereas others come in as day patients. You will be advised of your proposed length of stay within the first week, and this will be discussed and reviewed regularly.

For those who have come straight from hospital, we encourage people to think about a visit home as soon as practical. Sometimes a trip home at weekends, with or without an overnight stay, can be organised and planned early on.

Therapy sessions

How therapy is delivered and built around daily life.

Therapy sessions — what do these involve?

Therapy sessions vary from person to person. They may be one-to-one, or with two or more therapists combining different therapy disciplines at the same time.

Sessions may take place anywhere in the neurorehabilitation centre, such as a therapy room, your own room, in communal areas, or involve real-life situations such as going out, using the bus, shopping, going for a coffee or lunch. Sessions at home may also include indoor and outdoor work.

You may also be asked to do things on your own or with a group of other people outside therapy sessions, such as carrying out an exercise programme or organising a trip. Therapy is more than your individual sessions; it needs to link with everyday activities and situations outside your session time to get the most out of it.

Family, key worker and goals

How support networks and goal planning fit into rehabilitation.

Family and friends

Your family, friends and other contacts outside Ascot Rehab are extremely important in your rehabilitation. We are keen to involve these people in your therapy sessions as well as in meetings.

If you agree, one of the neurotherapy team will aim to liaise with a family member or friend soon after your arrival at the centre as part of the assessment process.

Key worker and consultant meetings

Everyone who attends the centre as an inpatient has an allocated key worker who is responsible for overseeing your stay. They will also act as a point of contact for you and your family or friends.

You will meet with your key worker and consultant throughout your stay to review your short-term goals, long-term goals and improvements you have made. This may be once a week depending on your needs and helps identify new goals as we work towards improving your independence.

What is goal planning?

Goal planning forms part of the therapy sessions at the neurorehabilitation centre. It is more frequently applied for longer-term residents and plays an important role in rehabilitation.

Goal planning has been described as a system of targeting and planning aims, ambitions and achievements to be completed by a given timetable. It is the system we use to help you organise your stay, ensuring that everyone in your team knows your personal goals.

Short-term goals / steps to achievement

Long-term goals are broken down into smaller, more manageable parts, which you will work on over the days or weeks depending on your length of stay. These are called short-term goals.

Examples include:

  • To have a shower safely on your own
  • To make a sandwich using any necessary aids and adaptations
  • To walk from the lounge to the dining room and back for lunch every day with the aid of a stick
  • To consistently write your appointments in your diary without prompting
  • To telephone a restaurant and book a table for lunch
Long-term goals

If you are a patient at Ascot Rehab for longer than two weeks, you will meet your key worker in the first few days of your stay for your first goal planning meeting. In discussion with you, a list will be drawn up of the objectives or long-term goals you are hoping to achieve by the end of your stay.

Examples include:

  • To get washed and dressed on your own
  • To cook meals and carry out other domestic activities, such as housework
  • To walk with a stick indoors and outdoors for short distances
  • To be using a diary to structure your week and time
  • To be doing a course of your choice
  • To feel confident enough to talk to people you do not know and use the telephone

Everyone is different and your long-term goals will be specifically tailored to you. It is vital that you get involved in these discussions and say what you want to work on.

Moving on

Planning for life after Ascot Rehab.

Moving on from Ascot Rehab rehabilitation hospital

Ascot Rehab may be just one part of your rehabilitation journey. Helping you make decisions and plan for life after the centre is an important part of what we do.

Our team will provide a valuable link between you and your local community services, local hospital or other services if appropriate. Meetings can be arranged so you can make contact with these people before you leave Ascot Rehab. This helps make the transition from the centre to your next destination a smooth one.

Time will also be spent with you reviewing how you will spend your time when you leave the centre. If possible, we will arrange a visit home, to your local shops or area, as well as other local facilities such as a gym, swimming pool, local support groups or adult education centre. This may not be possible or appropriate for everyone.

Have a question that is not covered here?

For enquiries about referrals, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, outreach therapy, assessments or admission pathways, contact Ascot Rehab and the team will guide you to the right person.