Care after a hospital stay or fall: convalescence and rehabilitation

Terms used

• Trabajo social sanitario — Trabajo social sanitario is the hospital social work service that assesses your needs and arranges care after discharge.
• Centro de salud — The centro de salud is your local public health centre, where your family doctor and nurse work.
• Hospitalización a domicilio — Hospitalización a domicilio is hospital-level treatment given at your home by hospital doctors and nurses.
• Estancia temporal — An estancia temporal is a short stay in a residence, paid by the day or month.

Key rules

• Who arranges it: The hospital social worker arranges your post-discharge care, so contact them in the first days of admission.
• Regional differences: Which public options exist depends heavily on your region.
• Private cost: Private short stays cost more per day than long-term places, and rehab-heavy stays cost more still.
• Insurance: Private insurance rarely pays for a pure convalescence stay, so check your policy before booking.

Who arranges care after discharge

The hospital social worker (trabajo social sanitario) arranges it, sometimes together with a case nurse (gestor de casos or enfermera de enlace). They assess your situation and care needs. They also work with your centro de salud and the town's social services. They can help set up home care, a temporary or permanent place in a residence, hospital care at home, or rehab. They can also help with a dependency application.

Contact them early, ideally in the first days after admission. Arranging care takes time, and waiting until the discharge date is too late. Ask the ward nurse or reception how to reach the social work unit. Private hospitals may have their own social team.

Bring your ID, health card and income details. Be ready to say what help you can give at home.

Public options

What exists depends heavily on your region. Ask the social worker which of these are available where you live:

• Convalescence or medium-stay units in some regions, and geriatric rehabilitation units.
• Hospital care at home (hospitalización a domicilio): hospital staff treat you at home.
• Outpatient rehab or physiotherapy through the hospital's rehab service. Waiting lists are often long.
• Temporary stays in a residence in some regions, usually through social services and the dependency system.

Private options

You can pay for a convalescence stay in a residence (estancia temporal), a private rehab clinic, physiotherapy and nursing at home, or a private hospital rehab programme. The decision block below helps you choose between them.

What private care costs

Private convalescence is usually priced as a daily or monthly residence-style stay. The price depends on:

• your region;
• how much nursing and rehab you need;
• a single or shared room;
• whether it is a residence or a clinic.

Short stays in private residences generally cost more per day than long-term places. Stays with a lot of rehab cost more still. Get the exact price in writing from the provider before you agree.

Does private insurance pay?

Private insurance usually covers acute hospital treatment and some rehab sessions, with session limits. It rarely covers a pure convalescence or residence stay. Some policies cover a limited number of days of post-operative stay, home nursing or physiotherapy, with caps and prior authorisation. Check your policy terms and ask your insurer before booking.

The FAQ below covers refusing a discharge destination.

Choosing between options

Which kind of short-term care should you arrange after discharge?

• Public convalescence or rehab unit: Fits if you need nursing or rehab and want public care. Some regions offer medium-stay or geriatric rehab units.

• Hospital care at home: Fits if you can be looked after at home and still need hospital-level follow-up. Ask the social worker if home hospital care (hospitalización a domicilio) is offered.

• Outpatient rehab or physiotherapy: Fits if you can live at home and travel to sessions. The hospital rehab service provides it, but waiting lists are often long.

• Temporary stay in a residence: Fits if you cannot manage at home yet. Some regions offer public stays through social services. Privately you pay a daily or monthly price, and insurance rarely covers it.

• Private rehab clinic, or physiotherapy and nursing at home: Fits if waiting lists are too long and you can pay.

Start with the hospital social worker, who assesses your needs and arranges public options. If the public wait is too long or the care you need is not offered, go private, and check the price with the provider and the cover with your insurer first.

Frequently asked questions

When should my family contact the hospital social worker?

Your family should contact the hospital social worker in the first days after admission, well before the planned discharge. Arranging care takes time, so waiting until discharge day causes delays. Ask the ward nurse or reception how to reach the social work unit, and bring ID, the health card and income details.

Can I refuse to be discharged to a place I have not agreed to?

Yes, you can refuse a discharge to a place you have not agreed to, but delays are discouraged. It is better to tell the social worker early what you can arrange at home. That way they can offer options you accept before the discharge date.

Does private health insurance pay for a convalescence stay in a residence?

No, private health insurance does not usually pay for a pure convalescence stay in a residence. Many policies cover some rehab sessions, and some cover a limited number of post-operative days, home nursing or physiotherapy, with caps and prior approval.

How is a private short stay in a residence priced?

A private short stay is usually priced per day or per month. Short stays cost more per day than long-term places, and stays with a lot of rehab cost more again. Region, room type (single or shared) and the level of nursing also change the price.