The economic benefits of rehabilitation for neurological conditions
A rehabilitation programme may initially appear expensive, resulting in a lack of enthusiasm to develop them by funding bodies and commissioners. Therefore, demonstrating the long-term cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation is extremely important. Many people with long-term neurological conditions will live for many years and investment in their physical and psychological functioning early in the course of the condition will, over the lifetime of the patient, potentially result in substantial savings.However, calculating economic evaluations can be complicated and the correct measure must be chosen to identify the change produced by the rehabilitation intervention. These data must then be handled appropriately and all ancillary costs included. The economics are wider than this and will include potential earnings and reduced costs to social care. The economic analyses will also include housing, education, and vocational outcomes and the impact on family members who may have a caring role.