A severe blow to the head or an accident that causes the head to shake roughly causes traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to the Brain and Spinal Cord website, an informational site produced by the Newsome Law Firm, a fall from an extensive height, a car crash or a punch to the head can significantly shake the brain to cause a TBI. Patients who have undergone a serious brain injury require extensive physical and mental rehabilitation.
Step 1
Educate yourself about the consequences of TBI to prepare for coping with the recovery process your friend or loved one will have to undergo. According to the Brain and Spinal Cord website, families need to learn as much as possible to help the patient through the long process that could include relearning how to talk and interact with others.
Step 2
Write down the routine that's expected of the patient every day and post it where it will be noticed. Stick to the routine as well. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, patients with head injuries respond best when faced with a more structured environment and established patterns.
Step 3
Work with the patient's caregiver team to identify those areas that will require improvement. For example, some head injury patients become sexually aggressive, while others may have no recognition of the changes they've undergone. Once you've identified the deficits caused by the injury, you can prepare your responses.
Step 4
Expect the patient to forget instructions and directions. To help develop memory skills, keep distractions such as music, television and guests to a minimum, and repeat instructions often. Ask the patient to repeat your instructions several times.
Step 5
Post signs around the house if the patient tends to lose direction easily. Label doors with the names of the rooms, such as bathroom and bedroom. Keep doors to the outside locked with keys to which the patient does not have access.
Tips and Warnings
- There may be times when you are overwhelmed and unable to find relief by talking to your patient's doctors. Find a local support group for families and friends of TBI patients. You'll find support and understanding from others going through the same emotions and trials. They can share tips and advice about how they deal with certain issues and handle various challenges.
- Head injury patients often have very inappropriate reactions. You must learn not to take the responses personally; they have nothing to do with you, but are a result of the injury. For example, the patient may have no sense of humor, or laugh incessantly. Violent and aggressive behavior may flare up without provocation. Try to calmly explain the situation and help the patient relearn how to interact socially. There may be times that reasoning doesn't work. Call the police or protective services if you feel physically threatened. Not all head injury patients can be taken care of at home. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, in some cases the behavior is so difficult to handle that the patient has to remain in a rehabilitation center. Be prepared to send the patient to an inpatient facility if necessary.
Things You'll Need
- Lists of daily routines
- Labels for rooms
- Keyed locks
