Assisted Living for Seniors with a Brain Injury

The option of assisted living for someone with a brain injury could be one of the best options provided. First let’s focus on the term brain injury.

Types of Brain Injury

According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) the term brain injury applies to those who fall into two categories; a traumatic brain injury or an acquired brain injury. The acquired brain injury (ABI) often affects seniors because these types of injuries include:

• Stroke
• Lack of oxygen
• Dementia

However a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can also affect seniors due to some common factors among the elderly which include:

• Falling (over 40% of all TBIs occur from falling)
• Car Accidents

Caregiving for Someone with a Brain Injury

Caregiving can be extremely difficult for those who are suddenly faced with the decision to make a choice between caregiving and having experts care for their loved one. There will be a number of steps that accompany the recovery process when someone has experienced a brain injury. Keep in mind that

• Recovery varies with every person
• It can be long and tedious dealing with a brain injury, sometimes taking years
• Can become overwhelming, especially when you attempt to care for a loved one with friends and family in the home
• They may never have a full recovery and return to their normal self

Assisted Living for Someone with a Brain Injury

It is typical for those with a brain injury to spend at least some time in assisted living; however, for many it could be the best way to live with quality of life as they move forward.

How can assisted living help someone with a brain injury?

Assisted living provides a number of options that can be helpful in caring for someone with a brain injury.

1. Trained Personnel - caregivers are trained to understand and know how to work best with those who have special needs due to brain injuries
2. Medication – there may be a number of medications required on a regular schedule and a full staff can easily provide medication on time, as needed.
3. In-House Rehab – many facilities can provide rehabilitation needed as your loved one progresses in recovery; allowing for the most optimum recovery possible.
4. 24 Hour Staffing – the place of assisted living can be chosen with a number of needs in mind; including having a 24 hour staff on hand to check on and provide care for the residents.
5. Affordable – it is most likely that, especially with the help of finding the proper assisted living facility, the caregiving and stay at both long and short-term assisted living will be covered. (It is helpful to have an experienced geriatric specialist like Senior Living Experts to help you find the proper care facility and know the ways of both Medicare and other programs available to help you with making the right decision)
6. Adaptable Equipment – there are a number of devices, tools, and items that can help make life easier for someone who has a brain injury; including special eating utensils, special chairs, communication units and more.
7. Accessibility/Safety – your loved one’s home is most likely not ADA and assisted living can provide a safe environment so they can enjoy a higher quality of life, safely.

You have most likely been thrown into an immediate need for care if you or a loved one has experienced some type of brain injury. Assisted living for someone with a brain injury can be one of the best moves you make.Cited Works:

‍Brain Injury Association of America Photo by geralt / Pixabay