Family Experience Of Brain Injury: Surviving, Coping, Adjusting (after Brain Injury: Survivor Stories)

Brain Injury not only affects its victim, but those around them. In many cases, relatives are often overlooked despite facing many obstacles accepting and adjusting to a new way of life. __Family Experience of Brain Injury__ showcases a unique collaboration between relatives of brain injured individuals and professionals from the field of neurorehabilitation. Family members from all different viewpoints tell their story and how the brain injury of a loved one has affected them. This book provides a space for those hidden and marginalised voices, the people who are in for the long haul, often dismissed by services and left to cope in isolation. By combining expert commentary with real life experiences, this book points towards sources of support, normalises the experience and provides a context for understanding the grief and losses of family members. Not only will the hard-earnt knowledge and wisdom evident in this book help educate health and social care staff, it highlights how love, commitment, hope and perseverance, against a seemingly unbearable grief, can remain. It is essential reading for individuals and families touched by brain injury and will give multi-disciplinary professionals, such as medics, nurses, psychologists, therapists, social workers, rehabilitation practitioners and clinical supervisors, a greater understanding of their role in helping the affected family. Cover 1 Half Title 4 Series Page 5 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Table of Contents 8 List of boxes 9 Acknowledgements 10 Foreword 11 Preface 15 1. Introduction 18 2. Acquired brain injury and families: The context 20 Brain injury 20 Acquired brain injury: the impact 21 Recovery and rehabilitation 25 Family and brain injury 29 Family and brain injury research 29 Conclusion 33 References 34 3. Does the family become part of the team, or the team become part of the family?: An interview with a father 17 years after brain injury 39 Introduction 39 Conversation 41 Summary and reflections 54 References 59 4. Behaviour, vulnerability and the criminal justice system 61 Jeanne’s story 61 Professional perceptions 72 5. Grief without end 77 The story 77 The reality 84 Giles Yeates’ response to Laura’s account 89 Inter-connection in relationships following brain injury versus isolated (and ignored) individuals 89 Reluctance of statutory services to acknowledge complex and enduring nature of ABI 90 Recognition of familiar selves following brain injuries 91 Summary 92 References 93 6. Support of siblings 94 Introduction 94 Investigating the issues 95 7. Children’s challenges 109 Alistair, Beatrix and Christine 109 Deidre 122 8. The impact of acquired brain injury on the family: Common themes, threads and differences 130 Context before the accident 130 Traumatic event and the immediate aftermath 131 Longer-term ups and downs for family 134 References 154 9. What may help? 155 Safety, security and feeling supported 155 Timely, relevant, and valid information 156 Reducing burden of care 157 Stress and mental health issues 158 Considering the needs of all family members 160 Working with professionals 165 References 172 10. In conclusion 175 Holding the threads together: curating the narrative of the one you love 176 References 178 References 179 Index 186 This important book gives a voice to family members of people with a brain injury, who can also be severely impacted by the experience. Changes to behaviour, to personality and to functioning may render the injured person entirely different and the involved relative is left loving a stranger, often with very little specialist help.