Providing care for a loved one who’s experienced a traumatic brain injury can be more manageable when armed with education and understanding. The tips below, courtesy of the Midland home care team at Compassionate Care, can reduce stress and frustration for both family caregivers and survivors.
- Recovery Takes Time: Recovery for someone with a brain injury very often takes years. Even though the person may appear to be recovered on the outside, some days are going to be better than others, and pushing the person too hard can result in setbacks. Be patient and avoid negativity.
- Look at Things from a Different Perspective: Try to place yourself in the shoes of the individual with the brain injury, and see situations through his or her eyes and abilities.
- Develop Structure: A structured day is often key to recovery because it can help the person retrain the brain and know what to expect during the day.
- Patience Is Crucial: Enable the person to complete tasks at his or her own pace to help rebuild independence. Extend patience in listening, permitting the person to finish speaking without interrupting, even if it takes time to find the words. This helps the person to relearn language skills.
- It’s Fine to Assist, But Avoid Doing: If the individual seems to get “stuck” in an activity or is repeating actions, he or she may simply require a little help processing information. Avoid taking over the task, but instead offer simple tips. Sometimes, those with brain injuries will need to complete a task in a very particular order as they retrain their brains.
- Allow Plenty of Opportunities for Rest: Someone with a brain injury needs more rest than usual. It is not a result of laziness. It is exhausting for the person to process and organize thoughts, especially when tired.
- Stay Alert During Social Situations: Crowds or parties can be overwhelming with too many conversations and loud noises taking place. Be aware that it might be too much to process and the person could benefit from a break.
- Never Treat the Person like a Child: Make sure you never talk down to the person. Even though you may be trying to be helpful, it can come across as belittling.
- Managing Difficult Behaviors: It’s important to determine what triggered a behavior. Was the person tired? Did too much noise result in anxiety? Was a certain routine broken? If possible, steer clear of those triggers to help avoid the problem behaviors.
- Be Sensitive to Strong Emotions: Realize that the person may become more frustrated or irritated, or might be more sensitive than pre-injury. Bear in mind that many things which used to be second nature now require a great deal of effort to accomplish.
- Offer Hope and Encouragement: Celebrate each accomplishment. Every moment of progress, however small, is a victory. New discoveries and stories of healing are occurring every day. No one person’s recovery is like another.
- Seek Out Support: You should never be your loved one’s sole support team. The person will benefit from a variety of professionals and online or local support groups. Additionally, as a family caregiver, it’s crucial that you recognize how stressful life can be and to seek support services for yourself as well.
Compassionate Care Home Health Services can provide specialized care for those who’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury. Contact us at 877.308.1212 for a partner in home care Midland, MI and the surrounding areas depend on.