Living with Brain Injury: A Guide for Families and Caregivers (Heritage)

An injury to the brain can affect every aspect of a person's daily life, including physical abilities and psychological make-up, relationships and family roles, school and employment, recreation and leisure. At the hospital, you may hear a lot about brain injury but not realize the importance of what you've learned until you have to deal with the injured person at home. In this handy reference book, health-care and legal experts from Canada and the United States guide you through the process of rehabilitation and help you learn how to live with brain injury. The advice of these professionals is complemented by the stories of two people who have survived injuries and are adjusting to their new lives. "...written for survivors of brain injuries as well as their loved ones and caregivers...personal stories from two brain injury survivors complement the essays from a variety of professionals." Contents 7 1. Introduction 9 2. What Is a Brain Injury? 15 3. A Survivor's View 28 4. After the Brain Injury - The Rehabilitation Team 42 5. The Hospital - and After 49 6. Case Management 57 7. Long-term Adjustment Following Significant Brain Injury 64 8. 'Rime7 of the Survivor 78 9. Psychosocial Effects of Brain Injury 84 10. Children and Adolescents with Brain Injury 94 11. Couple Issues After Brain Injury 109 12. Brain Injury and the Family System 119 13. Legal Issues Following Brain Injury 134 14. Leisure and Recreation 152 15. The Family as Caregiver 163 16. A Second Look 171 Appendix A. Resources and Assistance 177 Appendix B. Glossary 181 Appendix C. Suggestions for Further Reading 185 Contributors 189 "An injury to the brain can affect every aspect of a person's daily life, including physical abilities and psychological make-up, relationships and family roles, school and employment, recreation and leisure. In this handy reference book, health-care and legal experts from Canada and the United States guide you through the process of rehabilitation and help you learn how to live with brain injury. The advice of these professionals is complemented by the stories of two people who have survived injuries and are adjusting to their new lives."--Jacket If you are like most people, you don't think very much about your brain and its miraculous ability to enable you to do everything you do - moving, talking, planning, and reacting appropriately, to name only a few of people's daily activities.