Most inpatient physical rehab stays last about two weeks, with the national average sitting around 14 days per admission. That means you’re packing for roughly two weeks of daily, intensive therapy sessions where you’ll get dressed every morning and work hard for several hours. The key is bringing clothes you can move in, personal items that keep you comfortable, and the paperwork that keeps your care on track.
Clothing for Daily Therapy
You will get up and get dressed for therapy every single day in inpatient rehab. This isn’t like a hospital stay where you spend most of your time in a gown. Plan on wearing real clothes from morning until evening, and expect to sweat. Pack several sets of comfortable athletic clothing: t-shirts, sweatpants or stretch pants, shorts, socks, and underwear. Aim for at least five or six outfits so you have enough to rotate through between laundry days, and ask the facility in advance whether they offer laundry services or if a family member will need to handle that.
Loose-fitting clothes with elastic waistbands are easiest to get on and off, especially if you have limited mobility on one side or are recovering from surgery. If you’ve had leg surgery, shorts are particularly useful because therapists need to see and access the surgical area. Beyond workout clothes, also bring typical everyday clothing you’d wear at home, like shirts with buttons. Part of rehab involves relearning daily tasks, and practicing dressing with buttons, zippers, and snaps is a common goal in occupational therapy sessions.
Footwear matters more than you might expect. Bring soft-soled athletic shoes or sneakers with nonskid soles. Backless shoes, flip-flops, and open-back slippers are typically not allowed because they create a fall risk. For nighttime and walking to the bathroom, bring slippers with tread or traction on the bottom. A robe and pajamas round out your nighttime essentials.
Toiletries and Personal Care
Most rehab facilities provide basic soap and shampoo, but the quality is about what you’d expect from a hospital. Bringing your own toiletries makes the stay feel more normal. Pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, a hairbrush or comb, lotion, and any other products you use daily. A small shower caddy or toiletry bag helps keep everything organized and portable, since you may be using a shared bathroom or one down the hall.
If you wear glasses, hearing aids, or dentures, bring them along with their cases and cleaning supplies. These are easy to forget in the rush of a transfer from a hospital, so it helps to have a family member double-check before you leave. Electric razors are generally easier and safer to use than manual ones during a rehab stay.
Important Documents and Medical Items
Bring your insurance cards, a photo ID, and a list of all current medications with dosages. If you have advance directives or a healthcare power of attorney, bring copies. The admissions team will need these on your first day, and having them ready speeds up a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming when you’re already tired from a hospital stay.
Pack all prescription medications in their original labeled bottles. The pharmacy team will review everything and manage your medications during your stay, but they need to see exactly what you’ve been taking. If you use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, bring it along with your mask and tubing. The facility will have standard medical equipment, but a CPAP is personal and fitted to you.
If you already own any custom orthotics, braces, or splints, bring those too. Facilities typically provide standard walkers, canes, and wheelchairs, but anything custom-made for your body is worth having on hand so therapists can assess and incorporate it into your sessions.
Comfort Items That Make a Difference
Two weeks is a long time to be away from home, and rehab is physically and emotionally exhausting. Small comfort items can have an outsized effect on your mood. A phone and charger are obvious essentials, and a longer charging cable (six feet or more) is worth buying in advance since outlets are rarely next to the bed. A tablet or laptop loaded with shows, audiobooks, or music helps fill the downtime between therapy sessions. Bring headphones so you can use them without disturbing a roommate.
A few favorite photos, a small pillow from home, or a lightweight blanket can make an institutional room feel a bit more personal. Books, magazines, puzzle books, or a journal are good low-tech options for evenings when screen fatigue sets in. Some people find a notebook helpful for tracking their therapy goals, writing down questions for their care team, or just processing the experience.
A small amount of cash is useful for vending machines or a facility gift shop, but leave expensive jewelry, large amounts of cash, and irreplaceable valuables at home. Facilities are not responsible for lost or stolen personal property, and things go missing more easily than you’d expect in a shared environment.
What Not to Bring
Skip anything that creates clutter or a safety hazard. Extension cords, space heaters, candles, and heating pads are almost universally prohibited. Most facilities restrict outside food to some degree, especially if you’re on a therapeutic diet, so check before a family member loads up a cooler. Alcohol is not permitted.
Resist the urge to overpack. You’re in a small room, possibly shared, and storage space is limited. A rolling suitcase and one small bag should be enough. Anything you realize you need later can usually be brought in by a visitor. It’s far easier to add a few items mid-stay than to deal with an overstuffed room from day one.
A Practical Packing Checklist
- Athletic clothes: 5 to 7 sets of t-shirts, sweatpants or stretch pants, shorts, socks, and underwear
- Everyday clothes: a few button-down shirts or outfits you’d normally wear at home
- Footwear: nonskid athletic shoes, slippers with traction
- Sleepwear: pajamas and a robe
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, razor, comb or brush
- Medical items: prescription medications in original bottles, CPAP machine, custom orthotics or braces, glasses, hearing aids, dentures
- Documents: insurance cards, photo ID, medication list, advance directives
- Electronics: phone, tablet, chargers (long cables), headphones
- Comfort items: photos, a small pillow or blanket, books, notebook, pen
- Money: a small amount of cash for vending machines