Brain injury can happen in several ways but its impact can vary considerably. Many people live well with brain injury but do need some help to manage the demands of daily life. That’s where in-home care comes in. First, though, let’s take a look at the causes and consequences of brain injury.
What is brain injury?
A brain injury (or acquired brain injury) refers to any damage to your brain that occurs after birth.
The damage may be caused by:
- An accident (trauma)
- A stroke
- A brain infection
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
Brain injury is common in Australia and can have a significant impact on quality of life, reducing your ability to participate in your chosen activities. Most people living with acquired brain injury are under 65. Indeed, many are under 25 when the injury happens. Over 75% of people with an ABI are men.
How can brain injury affect you?
Every brain injury is different. The effects of a brain injury vary depending on how it happened and which parts of the brain are affected.
Brain injury impairments may affect your:
- Ability to control your movements (especially if it’s the result of a degenerative condition)
- Thought processes and cognition
- Personality
- Behaviour.
The consequences of a brain injury include:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Difficulty planning, prioritising and organising tasks – which means you may struggle to make meals, for example
- Physical limitations that restrict your independent movement
- Loss of motivation
- Difficulty making decisions
- Memory problems
- A limited attention span or difficulty focusing
- Impulsive behaviour
- Depression
- Anger
- Panic attacks
- Hearing difficulties.
What brain injury support services you might need?
Because brain injury affects everyone differently, the support you might need depends very much on how your injury affects your life.
You might need various types of support such as:
- Help to assess your needs and plan your care
- Help to apply to the National Disability Insurance Scheme for funded supports
- In-home support to help you manage day-to-day tasks like cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene or getting to social activities and health appointments.
How Focused Health Care supports people with brain injury
Brain injury is a complex condition and it’s important that those caring for you understand it and understand you.
Focused Health Care is a different kind of service provider. We’re run by Registered Nurses, meaning we operate from a deep understanding of your clinical needs and a deep compassion for your personal situation.
Our nursing team consists of a Nurse Practitioner and a team of Registered Nurses with extensive experience in caring for people with a range of medical needs, including acquired brain injury.
Nurse Practitioners hold a Master’s degree and are able to diagnose and treat a range of conditions, including order tests, prescribing medication and designing care plans. That can be very helpful if your brain injury stems from an underlying medical condition like a stroke or Parkinson’s disease.
Registered Nurses can provide 24-hour care (if necessary) to:
- Ensure you take the right dose of the right medication at the right time
- Provide mental health care and support
- Manage continence difficulties
- Assist with rehabilitation after a brain injury.
In addition, Focused Health Care can provide carefully selected in-home carers who will come to your home and help with tasks like meal preparation, personal care, grooming or cleaning.
Those services mean you’re well-nourished, maintain good hygiene and live in a nice, clean space without the effort it takes to do all that yourself. That’s important given that many people with brain injury battle deep fatigue. In-home care means you can save your energy for the things you enjoy.
In addition, we can manage your NDIS Plan and coordinate your services.
Like to know more? Please call us today on 1300 201 351.
Disclaimer
All information is general in nature.
