WG 4: Rehabilitation Capacity

In addition to the need for rehabilitation and a positive rehabilitation prognosis, the so-called rehabilitation ability is a prerequisite for participation in medical rehabilitation. Rehabilitation ability is operationalized by a high degree of independence and mobility (e.g. the ability to wash oneself independently and to walk around the ward) as well as the resilience to participate in the measures. As a result, people with high rehabilitation needs combined with higher care needs (e.g., people with intellectual and/or multiple disabilities) fall through the care net. 

The term "rehabilitation ability" has no legal basis. According to § 4 and § 42 of the Social Code, Book IX (SGB IX), all that matters is whether the services are likely to lead to an improvement in participation, i.e. whether relevant participation goals can be achieved. Rejection of applications for rehabilitation on the grounds of lack of rehabilitation capacity in the above sense also contradicts the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and the Resolution on Rehabilitation of the World Health Assembly of 27 May 2006, according to which persons with disabilities and persons with functional limitations should be provided with rehabilitation services and programs that meet their needs.

Thus, the concept of rehabilitation capability does not refer to the characteristic of the person, but to the lack of human and physical resources of the rehabilitation clinic. 

The Rehabilitation Capability WG is working on a position paper and a proposal to operationalize the concept of rehabilitation capability.

Speaker: Dr. phil. Christoph Egen