"Family Aspects of Return to Work after Brain Injury"
Kreutzer, J.S. and Kolakowsky-Hayner, S.A. (Brain Injury Source, vol. 5, Issue 1, winter 2001)
Returning to work after a traumatic brain injury is a prominent concern for most survivors. Research and experience from professionals and family members suggests that many individuals can make a transition back into work if they receive support from employers, colleagues, and family members. Supportive efforts, patience and persistence are extremely valuable in helping survivors of TBI obtain success in their work.
Various steps typically take place in the successful transition from the hospital to home and the work place.
- Recognizing the Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Recognizing that Brain Injury is long-term.
The person with a brain injury may experience various changes that can significantly alter their lifestyle. These changes do not only affect the person with the injury but the entire family and anyone who is emotionally involved with the person who has been injured. Families most often have to come to grips with the significant cognitive, physical, personality, and emotional changes exhibited by a family member who has been injured. With these changes comes a greater responsibility in dealing with new challenges that arise due to a traumatic brain injury. The family must be able to prepare themselves in dealing with the significant emotional and physical demands over a period of time. Some of these demands include recognizing that a brain injury survivor may never be the same, taking on additional financial and household chores, and dealing with the healthcare system on a regular basis. Recognizing the affects and changes on the survivor and family members is the first step towards coping and dealing with a brain injury.
Survivors of brain injury typically experience rapid improvement in the first three to six months following injury. After this period many individuals become frustrated when they continue to deal with cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Kreutzer, J.S. and Kolakowsky-Hayner (2001) report that individuals who sustained a brain injury and adjusted well possessed the following traits:
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"They accept that they will not be the same person they were before the brain injury" |
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"They readily acknowledge personal limitations" |
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"They do not get angry with themselves because they are not doing better" |
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"They set attainable goals and develop a pattern of success" |
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"They focus more on what they have and less on what other people have" |
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"They learn to appreciate unpaid activities such as visiting, cooking, housekeeping, gardening, and hobbies" |
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"They focus on building strong relationships with members of their family" |
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"They have supportive and accepting family members who recognize their positive features" |
3. Extending the Recovery Process.
The recovery process can be extended by realizing that everyone has the ability to learn no matter how severe a brain injury. Through practice many individuals can continue to make gains and learn how to deal with daily living and work situations effectively. This along with maintaining a healthy lifestyle (i.e. maintaining a healthy diet, giving up drinking alcohol and smoking) can go a long way in helping an individual and family make adjustments towards the changes involved after a brain injury.
- Avoid Giving Conflicting Advice.
Family members often provide advice for their loved ones as a means of helping. However, even though many individuals have good intentions, contradictory advice can make a situation more difficult to deal with. For instance, a person with brain injury may be told to take time off from work to help him recover, while another person tells him he needs to work hard in order to get back to work. Family members and health care professionals should communicate together to help reduce the chances of providing conflicting advice, and to help provide the survivor with the best possible means of returning to a well-adjusted lifestyle.
Reviewed by: Andrew Sikiric, MA
Research Assistant
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
