Rehabilitator: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to someone who helps patients recover their physical, mental, or emotional abilities after an illness, injury, or addiction.

• The rehabilitator worked with the patient to regain his speech and mobility after the stroke.
• Wildlife rehabilitators care for injured animals and prepare them for release back into the wild.

A broader term that can refer to someone who provides mental health support, emotional counseling, or physical rehabilitation. Context-specific to the type of therapy provided.

• Lisa sees a therapist weekly to talk about her anxiety and stress.
• The therapist guided him through exercises to improve his hand strength after the injury.

Used to refer to a professional who helps patients improve their movement and manage pain, often after an injury or surgery; focuses on physical rehabilitation.

• The physical therapist helped Susan strengthen her knee after her ACL surgery.
• Mike visited a physical therapist to relieve back pain caused by his poor posture.

Specifically used to describe a professional who helps patients develop or recover skills needed for daily living and working, often after an injury or illness.

• The occupational therapist showed Sarah how to use adaptive tools to help her cook and dress independently.
• After his car accident, John saw an occupational therapist to relearn how to write and use a computer.

Use this word when referring to professionals who provide treatment and care to people or animals recovering from injury or illness. This term is general and can apply to both human and animal contexts.

• The rehabilitator helped the athlete recover from his injury
• The bird was taken to a rehabilitator after being rescued

Use this term for individuals who actively engage in the rescue of wild animals from harmful situations. This role often involves immediate action to save animals in distress.

• The wildlife rescuer was called to save a deer that had fallen into a river

Use this term specifically when referring to someone who specializes in caring for and treating injured or orphaned animals. This is more precise than 'rehabilitator' in the context of animals.

• The animal rehabilitator spent months nursing the injured owl back to health

Use this term for a scientist who studies animals and their habitats. This profession involves research, conservation, and often, the study of animal behavior.

• The wildlife biologist conducted a study to understand the migration patterns of the local bird species