There is a lot to learn when you, someone in your family or a friend acquires a brain injury. It is hoped that if we can provide you with a list of some of the units, departments, groups and organizations involved in this new area it will enable you to feel less unsure about the way forward, wherever you are in your ABI journey.
During the Early Stages of ABI
During the initial acute stage after a brain injury, unfortunately it may feel like a long wait for family members to know what is ahead, but while each journey is different, the information below will allow you to become more familiar with this new area and hopefully reduce uncertainty with what is ahead. In addition, if you are an adult with ABI or their family member or friend, you should feel welcome to phone, email or meet us to discuss your situation. All of our volunteers and team members have been through these early, difficult days when all seems like a fog and you do not know where to turn. It should be noted that in many cases the services listed below will not be accessible until you are a fair way along your ABI journey. Give us a call to talk to someone with experience in this area as we can give you guidance
Further Along the ABI Journey
Some people with ABI are able to undertake inpatient and/or outpatient rehabilitation. Frequently during the rehab process, you will be provided with information about the health and disability systems and guidance as to the resources that are available to help you live your best life with this disability. Sometimes this information is not available in the detail you need, and due to so much happening during this time you may be unable to ‘take it all in’ and need a handy reference point. We hope this listing provides this to you.
Others with ABI do not attend any formal rehabilitation. This may be due to your location, your level of brain injury, the availability of rehabilitation services to you and your own choice, among other things. For you and your family members, we hope that this listing will be particularly useful. The information below will allow you to become more familiar with ABI and hopefully reduce uncertainty about what is available to support you.
Whether you have been through rehabilitation or not, if you are an adult with ABI or their family member or friend, you should feel welcome to phone, email or meet us to discuss your situation. All of our volunteers and team members live with, or live with someone, who has ABI and have experience in understanding and accessing resources in this field. Sometimes it just helps to confirm your understanding and we are here to support you.
Our ability to manage the impact of ABI is affected by our emotional state, particularly feelings of depression, anger and anxiety. One member of the family may not be able to continue to undertake their previous household roles and thus another will need to undertake these. This in turn places more pressure and expectation on other family members, contributing to increased stress.
When individuals know they are valued, this acts as an important psychological factor in helping to overcome negative aspects of their lives and to think more positively about their environment. In attempting to address the impacts of the ABI, an individual may further reduce contact with social networks having a further negative effect on the individual’s ability to address their health problems.
Utilising supports from family, friends, colleagues and Families 4 Families can be the first step in addressing fatigue as it impacts on many aspects of an individual’s life.
‘Unless someone cares an awful lot
nothing’s going to get better It’s not’