What type of care can you expect to receive?
From WikiEducator
- Care for a survivor of brain injury can mean many different things; it can look at the care received inside of the hospital,
- the care received on an outpatient basis or the care received based upon your living situation. Many survivors of TBI will be
- the first to say, that money plays a big factor in their care. If an individual has money to use towards their rehabilitation,
- then there will be better resources and services available then those that are publicly funded.
- Individuals who tend to get the most rehabilitation and the best rehabilitation are individuals who have been in an MVA, considering
- they will get insurance money to pay for the rehabilitation, support and services that are needed and they also will possibly get a
- lifelong settlement which will assist them if they are unable to work. Generally, if an individual is in need of outpatient
- rehabilitation, supports and services, the insurance money will insure that they do not have to wait for a long time and that those
- they receive are the best ones they can. The downside to all of this though is that depending upon the type of accident or the province
- that they live in, there can be a no fault clause and that can result in long legal battles.
- Occupational Therapy: An occupational therapist works with individuals on all aspects of life. Rehabilitation
- may be to function in the home, adaptations to the home, or cognitive re-training. An OT will look at a person as
- a whole and work with a survivor of TBI on all issues.
- Physical Therapy: A physical therapist works with a survivor of TBI in respect to any physical injuries that
- they may have. It could be assisting them in learning to walk, use an arm again, or gain upper or lower body strength.
- A physical therapist works solely on the physical aspects of rehabilitation.
- Speech Therapy: A speech therapist works on regaining speech, making the connection with language and assisting
- an individual of brain injury in any speech issues that they may have.
- Recreational Therapist: A recreational therapist is not often used and often an OT will cover this aspect.
- An RT will focus on recreation and leisure for a survivor of TBI and assist them in recreational activities and
- quality of life.
- Social Worker: A social worker works with the survivor and their family on all aspects of the brain injury.
- They will assist them in navigating through the system, assist them in applying for funding if needed, and link
- them to supports and services within the community. They can also assist them in finding appropriate living
- arrangements if that is needed.
- Neurologist: A neurologist deals with just the neurological aspect of the disability. For an individual with a TBI,
- this would be how the brain is functioning, any needed follow-up, and what tests need to be done. Often a neurologist
- would consult with a physiatrist.
- Physiatrist: A physiatrist is considered a brain doctor and looks at the brain after an individual has suffered from a
- TBI. A physiatrist will work with the individual as a whole, look at walking, talking, movement and cognitive issues and
- also work with the whole team that is in place for the care of the individual.
- Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist will come into play if there are concerns about the individual’s well being. How they
- are doing emotionally and mentally, if they need more emotional or mental support and services and if they may need
- counselling or medication for depression