Supporting a Loved One With TBI: Tips for Caregivers
The importance of family, friends, and helpers cannot be overlooked in TBI recovery, as they help patients to stick to the rehabilitation schedule. Nevertheless, according to the CDC, the management of sudden changes in mood, pain, and cognition causes significant mental and physical burdens for caregivers.
North Carolina law entitles families to recover damages in cases of injuries resulting from negligent care, including expenses related to long-term treatment and professional help. There are programs, such as the NC Medicaid TBI Waiver, through which funds for the families’ caregivers are available.
Tips For Caregivers
In order to successfully adapt to changes in thought process, it is essential to implement organized methods of daily functioning. These efficient methods will ensure that the caregiver is able to keep an encouraging atmosphere at home while taking care of mental and physical health.
- Simplify Daily Communication: Ask them to do one step at a time, as due to the brain damage, the ability to comprehend multi-step instructions becomes hard for them.
- Maintain Visual Schedules: Use wall calendars and detailed lists of activities, so as to remind a person functioning through the sequence of events like putting on shoes, taking keys, and taking medications.
- Establish Consistent Routines: Make daily habits predictable, so as to reduce confusion; have work done at times of the highest energy level of recovering people, in the morning, before fatigue sets in.
- Pace Emotional Expectations: Realizing the potential for emotional peaks and valleys, both for caregivers and patients, will enhance the need for planned mental breaks to cope with daily stressors.
- Accept Assistance Early: Take advantage of the local support resources present in North Carolina and ask for assistance from family members before reaching the point of caregiver burnout, since caregiving does not come to an end.Â
- Join Local Support Groups: Participate in caregiver peer groups through organizations such as the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina (BIANC) to affirm your feelings and get good ideas.
- Attend Medical Appointments: Attend your loved one’s neurology appointments to track treatment plans and report significant cognitive changes that may be omitted by patients.
- Prioritize Personal Self-Care: Take care of your health by getting enough rest and regular doctor visits, since good health is vital for assisting another person.
Best Traumatic Brain Injury Care Facilities in North Carolina
There are several care facilities in and around Raleigh, North Carolina, for patients with traumatic brain injuries.
- STEPS for Recovery
- Brain Injury Association of North Carolina
- WakeMed Raleigh Campus
- Rex Hospital
- Duke Health Raleigh Hospital
- Sunnybrook Rehabilitation Center
- Precision Brain Center
These facilities are just a few of many throughout the area. Your doctor will be able to recommend the best treatment facility for your specific needs and insurance requirements.
Brain injuries are often life-changing. They are also complex injuries that affect people differently.
Therefore, personalized treatment plans are formulated for your individual needs. What worked for someone else may not work for you, so try not to get frustrated if you do not see the same results as people around you.
It is best not to compare yourself with others. Your recovery journey is your own, and only you can know how it feels.
The best treatment facility for you is a place that will make you feel safe and supported. They should offer you the following:
- Support groups for you and your family
- Peer mentoring, you should have the opportunity to connect with other people who have survived similar injuries, and your family should connect with other caregivers for support
- Ongoing care, your treatment should start either in the hospital or right after you are discharged and should continue as long as you need it
- Home modifications, the treatment facility should also assess your injuries and your home for any necessary modifications to make your home life safe. These modifications may include items such as wheelchair ramps or safety rails in the bathrooms.
- Most importantly, the treatment facility should offer you individualized care, and they should be willing to adapt their approach for your benefit.
Examples of Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are many different types of treatments and techniques for rehabilitation after a brain injury. Depending on your injury and symptoms, your unique plan may include some of the following examples.
Behavioral Management and Neurobehavioral Program
Many brain injuries have the potential to cause behavioral disorders, including personality changes and difficulty with impulse control. Treatment for these symptoms often involves a quiet space that provides a low-stimulation environment.
Avoiding triggers such as loud noises and bright lights helps to decrease distractions. Caregivers and family members should also be involved and taught techniques for managing behavioral changes.
Aquatic Therapy
Water is an amazing tool when it comes to healing the body. Knowledgeable aquatic therapists will guide patients in techniques to regain mobility and strength by utilizing weight training as well as gait training while in a heated pool.
Being submerged in water provides a safe environment for movement with the assistance of buoyancy while improving strength by providing resistance to movement as well. Pain management strategies are also taught in this setting.
Robot Assisted Gait Training
Your gait is how you walk or take your steps. Your gait may have been significantly altered by your injury, or you may need this therapy as a part of your recovery from paralysis.
Not all facilities will have robotic machines to assist you, but they will all have equipment that will help you move safely. You should be able to move effectively so that your balance, strength, and mobility are improved.
Wheelchair Seating Clinic
Physical therapists and mobility specialists should be available to assist you if your injury has caused you to require a wheelchair. They will help you select the appropriate chair for your needs and abilities.
They will ensure the correct controls, cushioning, and support are provided to optimize your mobility and comfort while using the wheelchair. They will also help work with your insurance company and advocate on your behalf to see that your needs are met through proper equipment.
Emerging Response Program
Severe traumatic brain injuries can leave patients in a minimally conscious condition. An emerging response program uses advanced therapies to assist patients in becoming more aware and engaged in their surroundings.
Patients should begin to understand and engage in purposeful activities and movements. This type of rehabilitation from brain injuries is a team effort that includes doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and case managers specializing in brain injury rehabilitation.
Community Fitness Center
Many people recovering from brain injuries want to continue to exercise to build and maintain strength after their rehabilitation is complete. They may not yet feel comfortable joining a mainstream gym, so some treatment facilities offer the option of having continued access to their specialized equipment for a small fee.
This is a very beneficial option for those who have finished their treatment plans as well as for the individuals still receiving treatment. They have the opportunity to motivate and inspire each other while continuing to work towards improving their health.
How Can a Brain Injury Lawyer Help With My Treatment?
An experienced brain injury lawyer is most helpful in dealing with insurance companies for you. The lawyers at Tatum & Atkinson will ensure that your claim is complete and filed correctly to maximize your likelihood of approval.
If you have already been denied, there is still hope for your case. Our lawyers will file an appeal and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf for your claims.
We will also fight for you if your insurance company stops paying for your necessary treatments.
Tatum & Atkinson Are Ready To Fight For Your Wellbeing
Treatment is crucial for recovering from traumatic brain injuries. Unfortunately, specialized medical treatments are astronomically expensive in the United States, especially if the insurance company stops paying or refuses to pay.
Do not give up hope for yourself or your injured loved one. Contact the attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson: The Heavy Hitters at (800) LAW-0804 for a free consultation to discuss your case.
We will explore your options for possibly negotiating with the insurance companies or seeking compensation for your injuries from a guilty party. Whatever the case may be in your unique situation, we will find a solution if there is one to be found.
