A rehabilitation stay is an organized stay at a care facility lasting at least 14 days (13 nights). It combines daily physiotherapy, medical care and a group activity program. Participants usually receive 2–4 treatments a day, full board and accommodation in an accessible facility. You can attend with PFRON funding or privately at your own expense.
If this is your first rehabilitation stay, this guide will take you through every stage. We start with formalities, then cover day one and the daily schedule, and finish with a ready-to-use packing list.
Rehabilitation stay vs. sanatorium: what's the difference?
In brief: a rehabilitation stay combines active rehabilitation with leisure. It is intended primarily for people with disabilities. Its goal is not only better physical fitness, but above all greater independence and contact with others.
A rehabilitation stay is more than treatments. Exercise and physical therapy equal group activities, conversations, entertainment and evening get-togethers.
A rehabilitation stay is often confused with an NFZ sanatorium or ZUS disability-pension prevention.
| Criterion | Rehabilitation stay (PFRON) | Sanatorium (NFZ) | ZUS pension prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who funds it | PFRON funding via PCPR/MOPS or private stay | National Health Fund | Social Insurance Institution |
| Main goal | Improved fitness, independence and social integration | Treatment of chronic diseases and recovery | Return to work, prevent disability pension |
| Req. | Disability certificate and doctor’s application (for funding) | Doctor’s referral approved by NFZ | ZUS medical examiner’s decision |
| Duration | Min. 14 days | Usually 21d | Usually 24d |
| Facility/dates | Choose independently from registered facilities | NFZ assigns date and location | ZUS selects facility |
| Carer | Carer’s stay may be subsidized | No refund | No funding |
The biggest practical difference? You choose the facility and dates yourself. You can also bring a carer.
Rehabilitation stay length?
In brief: a PFRON-funded rehabilitation stay lasts at least 14 days. At Leśna Polana, a standard stay includes 13 nights, or 14 days.
Two weeks is no coincidence. The body needs time to adapt to regular therapeutic stimuli and respond with lasting improvement. A few treatments spread over several days rarely have the same effect.
Funded stays take place exclusively in Poland, in organized groups of at least 20 participants. Remember that ending a stay without a valid, documented reason may mean having to repay the funding.
Shorter rehabilitation stays (6–7 nights)
Shorter health packages with treatments are also available. They are not rehabilitation stays as defined by law, so PFRON funding does not cover them. They are a good option if you want to address a specific condition or do not have two weeks free.
e.g. Leśna Polana: Health in a nutshell – stay with 10 treatments (6n) and 1wk recovery stay with treatments.
Time off work for a rehabilitation stay
If you work and have a severe or moderate disability, you are entitled to paid leave from work to attend a rehabilitation stay. It lasts up to 21 working days and is available no more than once a year. Pay for this period is calculated as for annual leave.
Note: leave for a rehabilitation stay and additional disability leave count together. In total, they cannot exceed 21 working days per year. If you have already used 10 days of additional leave, 11 days of leave remain for the stay. Any missing days must be taken as annual leave.
Give your employer the doctor's application for a rehabilitation-stay referral. On return, provide the organizer's certificate confirming participation.
Before you leave: formalities and PFRON funding step by step
In brief: to receive funding, you need a disability certificate, a doctor’s application and a decision from PCPR or MOPS. You must register your chosen stay at least 21 days before it begins.
- Disability degree certificate (or an equivalent certificate).
- Doctor’s rehabilitation referral application It states the stay type and whether a carer is needed.
- Application for funding from PCPR or MOPS competent for your place of residence. Apply on paper or online via the Support Services System (SOW). Funding depends on income, disability level and life situation. Apply early in the year, as many counties use a first-come, first-served system and PFRON funds are limited. You can always appeal a negative decision to the Director of the relevant institution.
- Funding decision.
- Choosing a centre and session. Notify PCPR/MOPS of your chosen session within 30 days of receiving the funding approval, but no later than 21 days before it starts. Make sure the centre and organiser have valid entries in the voivode's register. PCPR/MOPS will check this anyway, but verifying it first can save you from looking for another date. Information about Leśna Polana's authorisations is available at Register entries and authorisations.
- Verification and booking. PCPR/MOPS checks whether the centre and organiser are registered, then transfers the funding to the organiser.
Private session requires neither a PCPR procedure nor a medical referral. A booking at the centre is enough. If any participant has a disability certificate, mention this when booking. Sessions at Leśna Polana take place on set dates and start on Saturday or Sunday. A medical consultation usually takes place on Sunday, based on which treatments are selected.
In some cases, rehabilitation session expenses can be deducted from tax. Read more in our article about the rehabilitation tax relief.
What does a rehab session include?
In brief: a rehabilitation session includes barrier-free accommodation, full board, medical care, daily treatments, and a recreational and social programme.
Barrier-free accommodation and meals
The centre hosting the session must meet the needs of people with disabilities. Ramps, wide passageways and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms matter.
Leśna Polana is fully adapted for wheelchair and crutch users. It has 190 beds in 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-person rooms, including a double room with a bathroom adapted for a person with a disability, measuring 15 m². Rooms have a balcony, private bathroom, TV, fridge and Wi-Fi.
The session includes full board: three meals a day. Breakfast and dinner are served buffet-style, while lunch is served at the table. The centre does not prepare special diets. If you follow a medically required diet, contact reception before booking.
Medical and nursing care
The session starts with a medical exam and ends with a final exam. The doctor reviews your records, assesses your health and selects treatments.
At Leśna Polana Rehabilitation Centre, a doctor is present at weekends. Leśna Polana is a rehabilitation and leisure centre, not a medical facility, so there is no permanent doctor or nurse on duty. If your health suddenly worsens, staff call an ambulance.
If you need constant medical care, ask your doctor before travelling whether the session is suitable for you. You may also consider a session with a carer.
Treatments and rehab facilities
Daily treatment tailored to your health is central. Leśna Polana's facilities include:
- hydrotherapy,
- physiotherapy,
- Laser therapy, magnetotherapy,
- kinesitherapy,
- Massage
- Inhalation
- salt cave,
- Thermotherapy
See the Rehabilitation price list page for details. We discuss treatment numbers and types below.
Recreational and social programme
This is what most distinguishes a rehabilitation session from other forms of treatment. Participants join group activities, walks, trips and evening gatherings. This helps them make new friends and regain confidence in social interactions.
The Leśna Polana programme includes morning exercises, Nordic walking, trips, dance evenings and bonfires. Guests can use a large garden in a 4-hectare park, a gym, billiards and free Wi-Fi. The beach is about 400 metres away; the wheelchair-accessible descent is about 600 m.
Day one: arrival, medical examination and treatment card
In brief: after arrival and check-in, you have a medical examination. Based on it, you receive an individual treatment plan recorded in your treatment card.
Tip: you can send your luggage to the centre in advance by courier. Put the first and last name of the person who made the booking on the order or parcel. Without this, the centre cannot accept the delivery.
A typical first day:
- Check-in. You can check in from the morning. If your room is ready, you will receive it immediately; otherwise, by 15:00 at the latest. In the meantime, you can leave your luggage in the room by reception. The session's first meal is lunch, served from 13:00. Paid parking is available: PLN 10 per day, or PLN 5 per day for holders of a disabled person's parking card.
- Medical examination. Reception will give you the exact day and time at check-in. The doctor takes your medical history, reviews your records and checks contraindications, such as a pacemaker or metal implants. Treatments are selected accordingly.
- Treatment card. Collect it from reception on Sunday evening after dinner. It is your plan for the entire stay, listing the dates, times and locations of each treatment. Treatments start on Monday. Arrive a few minutes early and do not change their order yourself. Breaks between treatments are planned deliberately, especially after heat treatments.
How many treatments per day?
In brief: on most sessions, participants have 2 to 4 treatments daily. At Leśna Polana, the session includes 3 treatments per day, Monday to Friday, 27 treatments in total. If a public holiday falls during the session, such as a national holiday, there are 24 treatments.
Why not more?
More may seem better, but isn't. Each is a thermal, mechanical or electrical body stimulus. Too many in a short time can cause a post-treatment reaction: temporary pain worsening, fatigue, poor sleep or BP fluctuations.
A post-treatment reaction is temporary pain worsening, fatigue, poor sleep or blood-pressure fluctuations. Thus, 3–4 treatments daily is a sensible standard for most patients. More intensive 5–6-treatment programmes are usually for specialist rehabilitation, e.g., neurological rehabilitation or post-arthroplasty care.
What treatments may you
| Treatment type | Examples at Leśna Polana | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesitherapy | UGUL exercises, vibration platform, outdoor gym | Muscle strengthening, improved joint mobility and balance |
| Physiotherapy | SIS, ultrasound, electrotherapy | Pain relief, reduced inflammation and swelling |
| Laser and magnetic therapy | Laser, magnetic field | Supports tissue regeneration, pain relief |
| Hydrotherapy | Hydromassage, brine and mud baths, lower and upper limb whirlpools | Muscle relaxation, better circulation |
| Rubs | Classic massage, lymphatic drainage, basalt stone massage, Hydrojet massage | Relaxation, improved lymph flow, rest |
| Heat therapy | Cryotherapy, fango, mud bath, brine bath | Pain relief; anti-inflammatory effects |
| Inhalations & salt cave | Brine inhalations, salt cave sessions | Respiratory support |
One treatment usually lasts from several to several dozen minutes, depending on the type. For extra treatments outside your stay, see the rehabilitation price list.
Daily schedule during rehab stay
In brief: most treatments take place before noon; afternoons are for lighter activities, walks and rest. Evenings are for the social programme.
This schedule makes sense. The body has the most energy in the morning, so the most demanding treatments are best planned before lunch. Below is a sample daily schedule. The centre sets the exact meal and treatment times.
| Day/time | What happens | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning | Wake-up, wash, and optional morning exercises | A light warm-up prepares joints for treatments |
| Breakfast | First meal of the day | Take about 30 minutes' break between eating and water treatment |
| Morning | Main treatment block per treatment plan | Plan 5–10-minute breaks between treatments; these will be included in the plan |
| Lunch | Day's main meal | A good time to replenish energy and protein |
| Early afternoon | Lighter treatments, rest, group activities | No exercise right after lunch |
| Late afternoon | Walk, Nordic walking, free time | Beach ~400 m from centre |
| Dinner | Lighter meal | A light dinner promotes good sleep |
| Evening | Social programme, meetings, rest | Joining activities is part of rehabilitation |
| Ngt | Quiet hours | Sleep aids recovery after treatments |
Ustronie Morskie is ideal for outdoor activities. You can walk along the seaside, visit the promenade pier or explore part of the local hiking trails. In your free time, visit the Helios pool complex.
What to bring to a rehabilitation stay: packing list
In short: bring your documents and medical records, enough medication for your stay, comfortable exercise clothes, swimwear with flip-flops, and your orthopedic equipment.
Without medical records, your doctor may not order some treatments. So start packing with a document folder.
Documents
- ID card
- Disability certificate (original or copy), unless provided earlier
- PCPR/MOPS funding decision (for a PFRON-funded stay)
Referral/doctor’s application was already submitted in the system.
Meds
- Medication for full stay plus a few extra days, in original packaging
- Meds list with doses
- Pillbox
- Plasters and basic dressings
Tip: every room at Leśna Polana has a fridge, so you do not need a cool bag for medication requiring low-temperature storage (e.g. insulin).
Orthopedic equipment (as needed)
- Crutches, cane, walker or wheelchair, with spare tips
- Orthoses, braces, orthopedic insoles
Exercise clothes
- 2–3 comfortable outfits (tracksuits, leggings, T-shirts)
- Sports shoes with stable, non-slip soles
- Socks without tight elastic
Water treatment attire
- Swimsuit and, optionally, a swim cap
- Non-slip flip-flops
- Bathrobe
Tip: towels for water treatments are available in Leśna Polana’s treatment room.
For outdoors and evenings
- Rain jacket and warm sweatshirt (the seaside weather can be changeable)
- Comfortable walking shoes; Nordic walking poles (available to rent at reception)
- Something smart for evening gatherings
Sm. items
- Water bottle, small backpack
- Phone and charger
- Earplugs and an eye mask for a good night’s sleep
Local fee
Tourist municipalities may charge a local fee to people staying longer than one day. Currently, the statutory exemption applies to blind people and their guides. Work is underway to extend it to people with a severe disability and their carers. The changes are expected to apply from 2027. If you qualify for an exemption, bring proof of eligibility.
Local fee: Leśna Polana currently does not charge guests a local fee (also called a climate fee).
Rehabilitation stay at Leśna Polana by the sea
Leśna Polana is a rehabilitation and holiday centre in Ustronie Morskie, about 400 metres from the beach, set in a green, 4-hectare park. We organise PFRON-funded and private stays.
Each stay includes:
- 13 nights in rooms adapted for people with disabilities,
- full board,
- 3 treatments/day wide treatment range
Choose from three stay options:
- Rehabilitation stay with treatments – PFRON and private: a basic stay for an adult.
- Rehab stay for patient + carer, no carer treatments: treatments for patient; carer's board and lodging.
- Child ≤10: rehab stay with carer; no carer treatments: child: 3 treatments/day; carer accommodation.
See current prices in the price list. Questions about dates or funding? Call reception: +48 500 075 300 or email info@lesna-polana.pl.
👉 Explore our rehabilitation stay packages
FAQ: Rehabilitation stay FAQs
How long is rehabilitation?
A PFRON-funded stay lasts at least 14 days. At Leśna Polana, a standard stay includes 13 nights, or 14 days. Shorter health packages (6–7 nights) are not considered rehabilitation stays under the regulations and are not eligible for PFRON funding.
How many treatments are provided daily?
At Leśna Polana, the stay includes 3 treatments daily, individually tailored to the participant’s health.
What does rehab stay include?
Accessible accommodation, full board, medical care, daily treatments, and a recreational and integration program.
Is every room wheelchair accessible?
No. The building and grounds are adapted for wheelchair users, but rooms with adapted bathrooms are limited. If you need one, indicate this when booking.
Can I bring a carer?
Yes. If a doctor states in your application that you need a carer, you can also apply for funding for their stay. Leśna Polana offers packages for a participant with a carer and for a child under 10 with a carer. If the carer has no funding, they can stay privately, with or without treatments. Just mention this when booking.
Can I attend without PFRON funding?
Yes. You can book a stay privately, without the PCPR/MOPS procedure. At Leśna Polana, stays are available both with funding and privately. The price is the same in both cases.
How does a rehab stay differ from a sanatorium?
For a rehabilitation stay, you choose the facility and dates, and it also aims to promote social integration and independence. An NFZ sanatorium focuses on treating chronic conditions, with NFZ assigning the date and location. Funding for a carer’s stay is also possible.
Do treatments take place weekends?
No. At Leśna Polana, treatments take place Monday to Friday. The first treatment day is Monday, after the Sunday medical examination. Weekends are ideal for trips, seaside walks, and relaxation.
Can I get a certificate for my employer?
Yes. An employee taking leave for a rehabilitation stay gives their employer a certificate from the organiser confirming their participation.
Is an extra bed available?
Yes, if requested in advance and a suitable room is available. An extra bed is a separate, foldable single bed with a mattress.