Therapeutic Rest Break Guidelines
Therapeutic Rest Break Guidelines
Why Therapeutic Rest?
Therapeutic rest allows people with TBI to recharge and perform better in their daily tasks, therefore making their rehabilitation program more effective and giving their brain a better environment for healing.
Description of a typical rest break
- Rest break times will be scheduled by occupational therapy
- Rest breaks can range from 30 minutes to two hours
- The patient should be lying comfortably in bed
- The staff person who starts the rest break will put a yellow sign on the door and will close the door, indicating that therapeutic rest is in progress
- Reduce as much stimulation as possible (dim lights, turn off TV)
- No visitors
Some patients are too agitated to sleep during therapeutic rest or may need exceptions to these guidelines.
Additional Information
If the patient can’t or won’t lay down, try to create a calming environment and provide activities that are calming and easy.
If a patient argues about the rest break, try showing it to them on their schedule like it is a class. Please talk to your loved one’s team members for suggestions on how to best manage therapeutic rest breaks. Often patients will continue to benefit from therapeutic rest breaks after discharge and modeling this while in the hospital can help in the next transition.
Revised: 1/2015
This resource is provided as a courtesy of Craig Hospital. For more information, contact the Craig Hospital Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-247-0257.
Disclaimer: The content in this document is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. No professional relationship is implied or otherwise established by reading this document. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Many of the resources references are not affiliated with Craig Hospital. Craig Hospital assumes no liability for any third party material or for any action or inaction taken as a result of any content or any suggestions made in this document and should not be relied upon without independent investigation. The information on this page is a public service provided by Craig Hospital and in no way represents a recommendation or endorsement by Craig Hospital.