As a caregiver, you mainly focus on taking care of someone else. When you want to help a loved one suffering from a brain injury, the first thing you need to do is take care of yourself. If you do not take care of yourself first, you will have much more difficulty caring for your loved one. Remember that you are important, too. The entire family is affected when someone acquires a brain injury. It is perfectly normal to feel stressed and burdened. It is even okay to mourn the loss of who your loved one used to be after a serious brain injury. Knowing the support assistances available to you can help ease some of these burdens and pains because rehabilitation is an ongoing process that tends to take a lot of time, maybe even years.
In-home services are available to help you and your loved one. These services include but are not limited to brain injury support groups, counseling for the adjustments that will come due to the injury, personal care assistants or health aides, and so much more. Asking your own support system for help is very courageous and brave. Leaning on them will help with the stress of caring for someone with a brain injury so that you do not burn yourself out.
Remember to fight for your loved one so that they can receive the care and assistance they deserve. You might have to advocate on their behalf in order to receive necessary services. Educate yourself on the services available after injury occurs and speak to your family, friends, and colleagues for advice on which services will best fit your loved one.
In-home services are available to help you and your loved one. These services include but are not limited to brain injury support groups, counseling for the adjustments that will come due to the injury, personal care assistants or health aides, and so much more. Asking your own support system for help is very courageous and brave. Leaning on them will help with the stress of caring for someone with a brain injury so that you do not burn yourself out.
Remember to fight for your loved one so that they can receive the care and assistance they deserve. You might have to advocate on their behalf in order to receive necessary services. Educate yourself on the services available after injury occurs and speak to your family, friends, and colleagues for advice on which services will best fit your loved one.
TOP 10 THINGS CAREGIVER’S NEED TO KNOW
1) You, the caregiver, matter. It is most important that the caregiver takes care of his or herself. In doing so, one is better fit to help their loved ones with the support that they need.
2) The recovery process is different for every individual with a brain injury. Recovery takes time from months to even years. Rehabilitation services are beneficial to your loved one if they are accessible.
3) It has been determined that caregivers of those who have suffered a brain injury may be more emotional with feelings of burden, anxiety, anger, and depression. It is normal to feel this way and very vital for caregivers to recognize how stressful this situation can be and to explore the support services available to them.
4) Setbacks are common with patients suffering from TBIs and do not always represent a reversal in the achievements the individual has made. These loved ones will have good days and bad, both surrounding their brain injury.
5) There might be some new cognitive challenges your loved one now has to deal with. Some common symptoms might be shortened attention spans, some memory problems like not remembering something you’ve explained or a past memory you shared with them, and they sometimes have difficulty learning new things.
6) Physical changes can sometimes occur. Some of these might include sensitivity to sounds or light, sleep problems, speech difficulties, and maybe even some muscle coordination problems.
7) Personality and behavioral changes are common in people suffering from brain injury as well. It might be harder for them to empathize with others or they might tend to be more self-centered. Mood swings and difficulty with some social skills that used to come easy are also common side effects.
8) Rehabilitation helps to make your love one learn how to be as independent as possible. It helps to implement new ways of doing their previously known abilities if they have been lost or are now harder.
9) After the medical and rehabilitative process has come to an end, it does not mean that your family member or loved one will continue life the way they could before. With good support systems, many return to enjoying a typical life filled of all of the same dreams as before. With more severe injuries, sometimes the life they had before is forever changed and family members must make adjustments.
10) Sometimes patience is the best thing you can provide. Sleeping more or needing more time to think about something is completely normal and taking some time to adjust is very healthy. Even though wanting to help in every way possible is how you feel, sometimes the best thing for your loved one is to provide the support and patience they need.
2) The recovery process is different for every individual with a brain injury. Recovery takes time from months to even years. Rehabilitation services are beneficial to your loved one if they are accessible.
3) It has been determined that caregivers of those who have suffered a brain injury may be more emotional with feelings of burden, anxiety, anger, and depression. It is normal to feel this way and very vital for caregivers to recognize how stressful this situation can be and to explore the support services available to them.
4) Setbacks are common with patients suffering from TBIs and do not always represent a reversal in the achievements the individual has made. These loved ones will have good days and bad, both surrounding their brain injury.
5) There might be some new cognitive challenges your loved one now has to deal with. Some common symptoms might be shortened attention spans, some memory problems like not remembering something you’ve explained or a past memory you shared with them, and they sometimes have difficulty learning new things.
6) Physical changes can sometimes occur. Some of these might include sensitivity to sounds or light, sleep problems, speech difficulties, and maybe even some muscle coordination problems.
7) Personality and behavioral changes are common in people suffering from brain injury as well. It might be harder for them to empathize with others or they might tend to be more self-centered. Mood swings and difficulty with some social skills that used to come easy are also common side effects.
8) Rehabilitation helps to make your love one learn how to be as independent as possible. It helps to implement new ways of doing their previously known abilities if they have been lost or are now harder.
9) After the medical and rehabilitative process has come to an end, it does not mean that your family member or loved one will continue life the way they could before. With good support systems, many return to enjoying a typical life filled of all of the same dreams as before. With more severe injuries, sometimes the life they had before is forever changed and family members must make adjustments.
10) Sometimes patience is the best thing you can provide. Sleeping more or needing more time to think about something is completely normal and taking some time to adjust is very healthy. Even though wanting to help in every way possible is how you feel, sometimes the best thing for your loved one is to provide the support and patience they need.
© Brain Injury Association of Georgia.
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Mailing Address:
2300 Bethelview Rd., Ste 110-343 Cumming, GA 30040 Email: [email protected] Toll Free 1-800-444-6443 |