The transition from hospital to
home for a person with an acquired brain injury can
be a stressful time. The injured person and their
family may need to adjust to a drop in the level
of medical and rehabilitation supports that were
available in hospital. Additionally, due to the nature
of brain injury, a person may have fewer resources
to cope with the stress caused by the change. In
some cases even mild problems can impact on day-to-day
behaviours.
Preparing for the discharge
home
Liaising with the social work and
the nursing teams in the hospital can help in planning
the discharge process. Equip yourself with as much
information as possible about sources of help and
support in the community, including local health
services and organizations, follow up services from
the hospital, your GP, and other people that can
help.
Remember that many people with
acquired brain injury may need further help from
the hospital system so try to clarify how you can
access this before the person leaves hospital.
At Home
Structure and routine are essential
for a person with brain injury. Families, friends
and employers can work together to create a daily
schedule that enables the person with the injury
to function independently with as little stress and
anxiety as possible.
Setting goals is important to keep
motivated and focused along with enabling you to
overcome negativity and gain control of your life.
It is important to know your strengths and weaknesses
and to set realistic aims. The best way to achieve
a goal is design a schedule with:
- A goal
- Tasks/steps
- Time frame
- Aim for completion
- Potential hurdles
- How to overcome hurdles
- Benefits of achieving the goal
- How to rate success
For the care giver
There are many things that a person
caring for someone with acquired brain injury can
do to make the process of rehabilitation as easy
as possible.
Strategies to help include:
- Try to keep a strict routine
- Write down daily activities
and keep a daily personal planner with “To
Do” lists
- Post a calendar in an obvious
place such as refrigerator outlining main appointments
of activities
- Start major projects such as
holidays or holding a party well in advance and
write out detailed step-by-step lists
- Remind the person of any changes
as far in advance as possible
For the person with ABI
To ensure a feeling of general
well being alone with minimizing stress and anxiety
include:
- A balanced diet and supplements
- Sufficient sleep
- Relaxation and stress reduction
techniques
- Avoid alcohol, drugs and cigarettes
- Regular exercise
- Ensure medication is taken correctly
Routine is essential in order to
function independently and setting a timetable each
day will help ensure the day runs as smoothly as
possible. Sleeping and eating meals at set times
each day will help build a routine for you and your
family.
To aid memory record plans in a
daily planner, diary or electronic organizer in the
order you need to do them. Get into the habit of
checking your plans every day or the night before.
Helpful strategies include:
- Using a note pad by the phone
- Making use of a large notice
board to record plans
- Set up an information center
were things are kept such as keys, important documents,
wallets etc…
- Label or colour code cupboards
to point out where things are kept
- Use a “To Do” list
to record goals and wipe things off as they are
done
Communicating and conveying your
message to a person with a brain injury can be difficult.
The key is to develop strategies that will help you
to put your message across such as:
- Establish eye contact and then
pause to allow time for engagement
- Do not discuss important subjects
when there is background noise such as TV, radio
or dishwasher
- Take note of the time of the
day when you want to deliver a message as fatigue
is common with injury
- Write any instructions or plans
legibly in large and neat writing
- Write notes for important conversations
such as family holidays, appointments etc…
- Put up step-to-step instructions
for daily activities such as cleaning, calling
the bank, operating an ATM etc…
- Repeat important pieces of information
casually in conversation
Guidelines to help you
cope
- Be patient and tolerant especially
with yourself
- Don’t isolate yourself.
Involve family members, friends or neighbours
- Remember that the goals set
must be realistic
- Be creative and flexible, change
something if it’s not working for you
- Keep a record charting the goals
the family has achieved
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