Brain injuries are extremely serious events, which can have lifelong consequences for those unfortunate enough to suffer them. According to head injury charity Headway, the number of annual hospital admissions relating to brain injury has leapt 12% in the last 15 years, with well over 350,000 admissions taking place in the year prior to the coronavirus pandemic. How should you seek support after a brain injury?
The Impact of a Brain Injury
The specific impacts of brain injuries are impossible to predict, and can range widely depending on the kind of injury suffered. Brain injuries can cause pain, confusion, paralysis, nerve damage, blindness, memory loss, behavioural change and all manner of other symptoms. The complexity of the brain makes recovery a complex issue, too.
The many and varied impacts a brain injury – some of which can be permanent – easily justify the retention of brain injury solicitors to seek compensation. There is no monetary value that can be attached to the quintessential faculties than an injury can rob from us, but any money received can go some way towards righting the wrong, through investment in recovery or in disability aids.
Seeking Support
Family and friends play a vitally important role in providing support for those with brain injuries. They can offer practical assistance with day-to-day tasks and help with emotional support; however, it's important for family and friends to seek their own support and advice as caring for someone with a brain injury can be a challenging and demanding role. Charities like Headway have a wide range of resources available for both sufferers and carers to learn more about living with a brain injury.
Rehabilitation
Naturally, the NHS is the primary port of call for brain injuries sufferers in terms of any recovery programme. These programmes will naturally differ from injury to injury, but there are some key basics. For one, physical therapy can help improve mobility, coordination, and balance after a brain injury. It can also help reduce muscle spasms and stiffness. Cognitive therapy, meanwhile, can help with memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. It can also help with emotional regulation and coping strategies.
Where conventional health services might falter with certain aspects of brain injury rehabilitation, charities can – to some extent – pick up the slack. One such charity is the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, or BIRT. Their network of rehabilitation centres across the UK offer a wide range of services, including residential care and community support, to support not only victims of brain injuries but also the family members and care-givers that may be stretched beyond their own abilities.
