Leaving the hospital after an acquired brain injury (ABI) can be a happy, yet scary process. Acquired brain injury is a ‘catch all’ term relating to damage to the brain that happens after birth. This type of injury may be caused by a traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle collision, or a ‘non-traumatic’ event that cannot be attributed to a congenital or degenerative disease. In essence, it is damage to the brain that is not related to genetics or a degenerative disease. Brain damage can result in permanent impairment in physical, cognitive, behavioural and emotional functioning.
Because acquiring an ABI most often results in hospitalization, for example, following a stroke, aneurysm or motor vehicle collision, the individual is provided treatment then discharged to a rehabilitation facility then home, or directly home from the acute care facility.
The ultimate discharge home often involves a team of health care professionals who develop a discharge plan. Your child may receive services from an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech-language pathologist and social worker. Key areas that are covered in the discharge process are your child’s cognitive, social, emotional, physical and behavioural needs. The most important question in any transition is what does the child and family need to facilitate the process while addressing rehabilitation goals?
Recovery with ABI is a dynamic and fluid process. As in any learning journey, sometimes it feels like two steps forward and three steps back. Setting rehabilitation goals, checking progress and continuing to strive to meet goals (and dreams!) is a continuous engagement of encouragement, learning from “set backs” and taking time to celebrate the accomplishments.
Your support network will be invaluable in this journey. Your family, your friends, and those who encourage you to support your child. Let folks know what you need and you may be surprised at how many offers of assistance you will receive.
Learning about your child’s specific concerns will empower you to see her progress and celebrate the mountains she will climb, in terms of accomplishing things like tying her shoe laces again, re-learning how to tell time, or being able to grasp a pencil and write her name again. This will also help you identify concerns that you can share with the treatment team. The Brain Injury Society of Toronto and Ontario Brain Injury Association of Ontario are good resources.
The treatment team will be made up of health care professionals that will assist your child to meet her cognitive, physical, social, emotional and learning needs. Most often, “out-patient” rehabilitation services are provided by a rehabilitation facility, then your child’s services may be transferred to a Community Care Access Centre. Therapists will then see your child in the home or school setting to provide services. While this system is intended to provide the requisite services, you may feel that your child needs more. In such cases, you may enlist the assistance of a therapist privately, though this is rather costly and adds to your escalating costs of equipment, time off work to care for your child and learning aids that your child may need.
It is important to remember that, as a caregiver, you have many responsibilities, challenges and demands placed on you. One of your own goals, may well be, to ensure your personal health and well-being for your own sake, and that of your child.
Ana is an Occupational Therapist and Life Coach with a passion for the well-being of women and mothers, and for enabling others to lead fulfilled lives. With over 10 years of experience as a registered occupational therapist, Ana has collaborated with adults and children through life-impacting events. Ana holds a Master of Science in Continuing Professional Development. As a clinician, consultant, researcher, educator and administrator, Ana has facilitated change in a wide variety of settings with clients and staff. She has assisted women to address issues specific to their needs, including sexuality, work-life balance and connecting with their own beliefs. Ana is the founder of WomanMpowered, a company providing services to enable women to empower themselves. Please send your comments or requests for permission to duplicate to Ana Flores. All rights reserved. ©