Rehabilitation is providing people with reduced functionality the same opportunities as everybody else. This will not only be done through physical rehabilitation but also with focus on social participation.
In Denmark, rehabilitation is included in the structural reform from January 2007. It poses numerous challenges to implement an optimal course of treatment which extends beyond hospitalisation. Subsequently, the department of development at MarselisborgCentret has developed ‘Det Gode Rehabiliteringsforløb’ [The good patient process]. This is built upon the notion of functionality as defined by WHOs’ International Classification of Functioning (ICF). The objective of ‘The good patient process’ is to transform the concept of rehabilitation into practice.
Rehabilitation is defined as ‘a targeted and temporary process of collaboration between a citizen, relatives and professionals. The aim is for the citizens – who are, or are in risk of, obtaining significant limitations to their physical, mental and/or social functionality – to attain a life of meaningfulness and independence. The rehabilitation is based upon the life and situation of the specific citizen, and decisions consist of a coordinated, coherent and knowledge based effort.’
The quote is derived from: ’Rehabilitering i Danmark – Hvidbog om rehabiliteringsbegrebet’ [Rehabilitation in Denmark – White paper concerning the notion of rehabilitation], MarselisborgCentret 2004. MarselisborgCentret, Danish Rehabilitation Forum and a range of organisations has composed the white paper which develops and clarifies the notion of rehabilitation.
