Rehabilitation for the elderly, nursing home or hospital rehabilitation ward?

I didn't realize hospitals have rehab wards. We have gone though 6 hospitalizations in just over two years. Two of those led to time in a skilled nursing facility for rehab. Medicare will not pay hospital rates when rehab is necessary. And the difference is significant about $200.00 a day for skilled nursing, and Medicare will pay for up to 100 days. Hospital beds are traditionally more than $1,000 a day.

My Mom was just moved from a hospital to a rehabilitive/nursing home type of place to await for back surgery. I think it can depend on the stability and general health of the patient as well as their insurance.

I think it depends on the reason for the hospitalization and insurance. Immediately following my Dad's stroke/recovery, almost 2 years ago, he rehabbed for about 3 weeks in the hospital. 7 months later he was hospitalized again for weakness, dehydration & kidney failure. He wanted to stay at the hospital for rehab but the social worker explained Medicare would only authorize skilled nursing facility.