Promoting older people's ability to manage at home is important both for themselves and for society, but few studies have explored whether geriatric rehabilitation actually meets the needs of this heterogeneous group. The purpose of this study was to investigate the meanings that older adults attribute to their geriatric rehabilitation experiences. A group of 27 older adults in inpatient rehabilitation were interviewed during the programme and after returning home. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using a qualitative method, which identified three categories of meaning. In the category ‘sense of confidence with everyday life’, rehabilitation was perceived as facilitating everyday living at home; in the category ‘sense of vacation’, rehabilitation was seen as a means of getting away from normal life and enjoying oneself; and in the category ‘sense of disappointment in the rehabilitation programme’, the participants expressed frustration with the limited opportunities to participate in the planning of their rehabilitation, and with the mismatch between the offered programme and what was needed. To promote older people's autonomy and to enhance their ability to live at home, professionals must involve their clients to a greater extent in the planning of the rehabilitation than is currently the case, and also individualise the rehabilitation regimen.