Rehabilitation

The word rehabilitate derives from the Medieval Latin word rehabilitare, meaning to restore or bring back to a former condition. Medical rehabilitation is a process designed to help individuals suffering from a functional difficulty to reach their highest possible level of self-sufficiency. The restorative nature of the root word implies a prior level of functioning. Thus, rehabilitation is most commonly used in reference to health-care services for individuals who have acquired difficulties. The level of independence achieved through rehabilitation depends on a [Page 1580]variety of factors, including the disability or difficulty itself as well as the environmental and social context in which the individual participates. Thus, rehabilitation services’ aims vary according to the individual’s needs. Desired outcomes may include independently dressing oneself, obtaining a full-time ...