Family and Community Essay -- Brain Injuries Neurology Medical Essays

Family and Community The family will become experts in services for traumatic brain injuries(TBI); Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Department of Rehabilitation regulations, while trying to adjust to a family member who has had a TBI. Many times this beloved family member had been hanging on the edge of death for unending hours, days, weeks, or even months. When they come out of the coma, they are not the same as they were. In most cases they are not able to do what they used to do, and their behavior may be dramatically changed. This will cause significant stress in the family structure; statistics show that 90% of families facing TBI are not able to stay together. The community involvement will also change dramatically for these individuals because many in the community will view them as having psychological impairments comparative to schizophrenia; such impairments are widely misunderstood and discriminated against in our communities (Loudon). Research has shown that the quality of life of individuals that live with TBI is significantly lower in many areas, such as marital comfort, close friends, parenting, understanding self, socializing, and work, than their nondisabled counterparts. Individuals experiencing a mild form of TBI seem to become hyperaware of and hyperreactive to the challenge introduced into their lives as a consequence of TBI. This recognition of contrast in quality of life issues before the injuries and after may provide rationale for their experience that the quality of life plummets after injury. This can be compared with other individuals with severe injuries who do not focus on the contrast between their "old" and "new" lives... ... Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury: comparison with other living in the community. Head Trauma Rebabil: 13(4):1-23 California Code of Regulations http://www.calregs.com April 28, 2005 Department of Rehabilitation, April 28, 2005 Retrieved May, 28 2005 http://www.rehab.cahwnet.gov/ TBI survivor D. Hildreth (personal communication April, 28. 2005) Johnson,Glen April 28, 2005 TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SURVIVAL GUIDE. Retrieved May, 28 2005 www.tbiguide.com Making Headway,Inc. Loudon, Cheryl 1125 3rd St. Eureka, CA 95501(personal communication May, 2 2005 MAXIMUS Ticket to Work Retrieved April, 28 2005 1-866-968- 7842 (TDD 1-866-833-2967) website at www.yourtickettowork.com MAXIMUS Protection and Advocacy Systems - The Nation's Disability Rights Network (PAs/CAPs) May, 2 2005 http://www.yourtickettowork.com/res_advocacy