Providing post traumatic brain injury care for a loved one who’s suffered from a traumatic brain injury can be more manageable when equipped with education and understanding. The methods below, courtesy of CareFor, can decrease stress and frustration for both family caregivers and survivors.
- Recovering Takes Time: Recovery for someone with a brain injury often takes years. Even though the person may seem to be recovered on the outside, some days will probably be better than others, and pushing the person too hard can result in setbacks. Stay patient and stay away from negativity.
- Look at Things from a New Perspective: Try to place yourself in the shoes of the person with the brain injury, and look at situations through his or her eyes and capabilities.
- Develop Structure: A structured day is in many cases essential to recovery because it can help the person retrain the brain and recognize what to expect during the course of the day.
- Patience Is Vital: Empower the person to undertake tasks at his or her own pace to help restore independence. Offer patience in listening, permitting the person to finish speaking without interrupting, even if it takes time to find the words. This helps the person relearn communicating abilities.
- It’s Okay to Assist, But Avoid Doing: If the individual seems to get “stuck” in an activity or is repeating actions, he or she may simply need a little help processing information. Refrain from taking over the task, but instead give simple tips. Sometimes, those with brain injuries need to finish a task in a very particular order as they retrain their brains.
- Allow Lots of Opportunity for Rest: An individual with a brain injury needs more rest than usual. It is not attributable to being lazy. It is strenuous for the person to process and manage thoughts, particularly when tired.
- Remain Alert During Social Scenarios: Crowds of people or parties can be intimidating with too many conversations and loud noises taking place. Know that it may be too much to process and the person could benefit from a break.
- Never Treat the Individual Like a Child: Make sure to never talk down to the person. Even though you may be attempting to be helpful, it can come across as belittling.
- Dealing with Difficult Behaviors: It’s essential to identify what prompted a behavior. Was the person fatigued? Did too much noise bring about anxiety? Was a particular routine broken? If possible, prevent those triggers to help avoid the problem behaviors.
- Be Sensitive to Powerful Emotions: Understand that the person may become more aggravated or irritated, or might be more sensitive than before the injury. Consider that many things which used to be second nature now demand a great deal of work to accomplish.
- Offer Hope and Motivation: Celebrate each and every achievement. Every moment of progress, however small, is a victory. New developments and stories of healing are happening every day. No one person’s recovery is like another.
- Get Support: You cannot be your loved one’s sole support system. The person will reap benefits from a variety of specialists and online or local support groups. Furthermore, as a family caregiver, it’s crucial that you understand how stressful life can be and to find support services for yourself as well.
CareFor, providers of home care in San Marcos, TX and the surrounding areas, can provide specialized care for those who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. Contact us by calling our team at (512) 338-4533 for a trusted caregiver to provide quality post traumatic brain injury care.