Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit
Also written as: GRU — Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit
A specialist inpatient ward dedicated to the functional recovery of older adults following acute illness, injury, or surgery.
Full Definition
A Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit (GRU) is a designated inpatient environment staffed by an interdisciplinary team trained in the complexities of ageing, including cognitive impairment, multiple comorbidities, and frailty syndromes. It differs from an acute geriatric ward in its primary orientation toward functional restoration rather than medical stabilisation. Programmes typically combine physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and social work within a structured rehabilitation schedule. Editors should distinguish this from a step-down or subacute unit, which may have lower therapy intensity. The term is often abbreviated GRU in clinical documentation and discharge summaries.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalise in full when used as a proper noun referring to a named unit; lowercase when used generically (e.g., 'a geriatric rehabilitation unit').
In Context
- "The patient was transferred to the Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit on day five post-operatively for intensive physiotherapy." — Discharge summary
- "GRU admission criteria require a rehabilitation potential to be documented by the referring team." — Clinical guideline