Technological innovation has revolutionized healthcare, particularly in neurological rehabilitation, where it has been used to address chronic conditions. Smart home and building automation (SH&BA) technologies offer promising solutions for managing chronic disabilities associated with such conditions. This single group, pre-post longitudinal pilot study, part of the H2020 HosmartAI project, aims to explore the integration of smart home technologies into neurorehabilitation. Eighty subjects will be enrolled from IRCCS San Camillo Hospital (Venice, Italy) and will receive rehabilitation treatment through virtual reality (VR) and robotics devices for 15 h per day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks in the HosmartAI Room (HR), equipped with SH&BA devices measuring the environment. The study seeks to optimize patient outcomes and refine rehabilitation practices. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific meetings, contributing to advancements in neurological rehabilitation and guiding future research.

Background and Aim: Hospitalization is increasingly seen as a key factor in rehabilitation outcomes, shaped by patient satisfaction, motivation, and relationships with staff. The lived experience of neurorehabilitation across neurological conditions, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and post-oncological care, remains largely unknown. This study explores the care and hospitalization experience of individuals admitted to neurorehabilitation units with diagnoses of stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and post-neurosurgical recovery following oncological procedures. Methods: Thirty-seven patients with neurological conditions were enrolled and interviewed. A descriptive phenomenological design was employed, using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed following Colaizzi’s method, supported by Atlas.ti 25. Phenomenological analysis was used to identify themes emerging from patient narratives, with rigor ensured through independent coding, triangulation, and saturation-based sampling. Results: Five themes emerged: (1) the therapeutic bond with healthcare professionals; (2) the slow time of hospitalization, marked by waiting and boredom; (3) care is rehabilitation; (4) illness narratives; and (5) stories of closeness among inpatients and family members. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight neurorehabilitation as a relational process. These findings reinforce the importance of considering patients’ experiences as an integral component of neurorehabilitation hospitalization. Future research should further explore how these dimensions may contribute to the development of more person-centered approaches to neurorehabilitation.