Things To Do Today
Some changes require a great deal of research and consultation. Other changes may include added cost and/or travel. Many alternatives, however, can be started today at little or no cost:

  • Have Some Fun: Brighten each day with a little "fun". You and your loved one will find yourselves surrounded by medical staff, therapists, and many other well-meaning but (often) humorless people. Hard work is certainly necessary to get better. But you can also brighten each day with some fun activities, too. Along with simply making it easier to continue to do that hard work, it has also been shown that laughter can be "good medicine", too. So take a few minutes each day to "lighten up". Your loved one will feel better for it (and maybe you will, too).

  • Old pathways: Old memories often are not "lost". They simply have not been used recently. Reconnecting with life pre-TBI can be a very positive step towards the future. One's sense of "self" is often tied to people, places, and activities of the past. Help your loved one to re-live those old days.

    Even during the initial inpatient rehab phase, this is still possible. You can use things like photos, videos, or old audio tapes to reawaken the old links. Later, of course, you can actually visit the people and the places -- and tell the old stories while you're there.

  • Old skills: Each of us has talents or skills which have been a source of pride in the past. As soon as your loved one is the least bit able, then you must help to rebuld that conscious knowledge of a talented or skilled person. Whether this is done via an electronic keyboard or a computer or a sketch pad does not matter. The simple act of being able to "do" something -- especially something that's not a "therapy session" -- can brighten the day. There may be a period of grieving for the full talent that was there, pre-TBI. But rekindling a spark of an old passion can provide an important new focus for today!

  • Real-Life PT: Physical therapy during a rehabilitation session can certainly be helpful. But PT can also be done in the "real world". Start with simple "range of motion" exercises to prepare the muscles -- these can even be done from a hospital bed, if necessary. And then walking is great, of course, whether with a walker, a cane, or just a friendly arm to lean on. This could be in the hospital hallway, in the park, at the mall, or even just going out to get the mail. Along with the actual exercise, of course, there are many other benefits, like fresh air and a change of scenery.

    And swimming can be especially helpful -- or even just being in the pool! The water helps to support you, so the thrill of standing alone and taking those beginning steps can be accomplished even easier there. As above, there is also a solid emotional benefit gained, if being in the water was an important part of a person's life in the past.

  • Rock 'n' Recovery: If your loved one is a teen or a young adult who has suffered a TBI, then playing upbeat, positive rock music may provide a good environment for progress. Check out our Rock 'n' Recovery site for some initial ideas. The goal of this project is to help instill a healthy attitude and a positive look to the future in young rock music lovers. Please help us add to the recommended playlist at that site.

  • Behavior Modeling: A person with a TBI may become frustrated, depressed, or angry much easier than ever before. One of the best ways to help some one cope with those emotions is to model the behavior that you hope to see in action. As detailed at the Brain Injury Association web site, there are "seven things families need to remember":

    1. Reinforce the behaviors you would like to see increase. Like a garden, "water the behaviors you'd like to grow."

    2. When safety is not an issue, ignore the behaviors you would like to decrease. [Calling attention to them may only reinforce them.]

    3. Model the behaviors you would like to see. [Act that way yourself.]

    4. Avoid situations that provoke behaviors you are trying to reduce.

    5. Structure the environment; use cues for positive behaviors. Plan rest periods. [We all have a harder time coping when we're tired].

    6. Redirect the person rather than challenging them.

    7. Seek professional help sooner rather than later.

 


 
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