It can be easy to underestimate how much even a minor knock to the head can impact you. Here, we explore how brain injury rehabilitation can offer a real source of hope for both you and your loved ones. We will signpost the support that is available to you, and we will explain how our team of experts can help you receive the right care and advice to get your life back on track – and overcome the challenges ahead.
What is brain injury rehabilitation?
The goal of rehabilitation after a brain injury is to help speed up the recovery process. Of course, the brain is a complex organ and so much can be affected when it’s damaged or injured. If brain cells are destroyed by the injury, they won’t regenerate.
But other parts of your brain can take over the roles and responsibilities of the damaged part. This is what effective brain damage therapy and rehabilitation aims to achieve.
The type of brain injury rehabilitation will always be tailored to the individual’s unique needs. If you suffer damage to the brain, rehabilitation can include a variety of different therapies, all of which are designed to improve or restore your quality of life, hopefully enabling a level of independence.
Brain rehabilitation could, for example, include neuropsychological therapy and support to assist in the development of strategies in respect of memory, planning and organisation which may not be as good following the accident. Physiotherapy may help with movement and motor skills, whereas occupational therapy will support the learning or re-learning of everyday tasks. For some brain injuries, there may also be a need for speech and language therapy.
Ultimately, each case is different and calls for a specific and bespoke brain injury rehabilitation programme. This will evolve and change over time, depending on your progress and needs. It is critical that brain rehabilitation and therapy starts as soon as you are well enough to ensure you are given the tools to successfully cope with any remaining disabilities.
How long can brain injury rehabilitation take?
The most effective brain injury rehabilitation, whatever form it takes, is designed to reduce the long-term impact of that injury. It's not always feasible to know how much recovery is possible or indeed how long it will take. Regardless of this, rehabilitation is a vital component in your ability to cope with any disability you have, helping you and your loved ones to come to terms with their injuries as well as improving your quality of life too.
The benefit of starting a brain injury rehabilitation programme sooner rather than later is that the most visible signs of recovery can often be seen in the first few months. But it's important to note that this is not always the case.
Headway, the brain injury association with which we work, suggests it can take up to 12 months to be “reasonably certain” about how much physical recovery is possible. Emotional recovery, however, can take much longer, particularly if there are “more subtle”, ongoing problems.
There is, no set timetable for how long brain injury rehabilitation can take. It’s based on the exact needs of you and your loved ones. Support will be provided for as long as it takes to come to terms with the longer-term impact of the injury. For some, that support may be lifelong.
We know from experience how essential it is for people to get the right brain injury rehabilitation services. Our dedicated serious injury team understands that compensation on its own, especially for brain injury, is never enough. You can also access our client’s stories to find out how we can help.
To find out more, call us today on 0370 086 8686 or send us a message for a free consultation using the enquiry form at the end of this article.
Who can brain injury rehabilitation help?
In the first instance, brain injury rehabilitation services are all about assisting and encouraging recovery after injury. This can include helping your brain to reorganise and restore any lost function. Or it could be creating an effective pathway for you coming to terms with the emotional and cognitive impact of brain damage.
Even if some of the effects of a brain injury are considered permanent, rehabilitation is still an important process, helping you rebuild your life and overcome or minimise the effect of any lifelong disabilities.
But it’s important to also remember that brain injury rehabilitation is there to help families. It can help your loved ones adjust to any physical or emotional differences arising from brain injury. As well as helping everyone come to terms with any long-term care requirements that might be required so the family can all rebuild together.
At Shoosmiths, we know that a brain injury can easily affect more than one person. We have a wealth of experience supporting people like you and your loved ones at what is often a hard time. Find out how we can help you too by calling 0370 086 8686 or sending us a message using the enquiry form at the end of this article.
Where can I find brain injury rehabilitation and support services?
There are a number of brain injury rehabilitation and support services across the UK for those who need them.
Charities such as the Brain Injury Group, Headway and CBIT are a good first port of call. They help anyone living with the impact of an injury, no matter how it is caused or how severe. The effect of an acquired brain injury is not always visible because not only is everyone different, it is also difficult to predict how a brain injury will impact you. There can be physical, emotional or psychological consequences, each with unique challenges.
Huge lifestyle changes may be needed and your family members sometimes feel excluded, stressed or burdened due to the changes arising out of your brain injury. Not enough time may be spent explaining how the injury can impact individual family members. Brain injury support networks and groups organised by charities can offer insight, guidance and a forum to ask questions of people at different stages of their own brain injury journeys.
What brain injury support is out there for families?
Brain injury support services can take many forms, from general guidance to information about specific concerns. Sometimes, it is just a case of knowing where to look and who to ask.
Even minor injuries can lead to problems that stay with someone for weeks, months or years. If you suffer a brain injury, support may include rehabilitation, occupational therapy and counselling. You could also be looking for advice or guidance with day-to-day issues too, such as going back to work. The services available are designed to cover all possible considerations.
If a loved one suffers a brain injury, you may feel that looking after them is a challenge that you are not ready for. Brain injury support services can help families who need to adapt to new roles, responsibilities and routines. It can lead to friction – but there are plenty of charities and support groups, like Headway, who can guide you if you are now caring for someone with a brain injury.
You can also turn to Shoosmiths if you, or a loved one, suffers an injury and someone else is at fault. Our team has many years of experience in helping people claim compensation for the pain and suffering caused. But our role is not just about supporting your claim. We can find out what brain injury support you need – and source the right professionals to work with you and your family.
Such professionals can include brain injury case managers, neuropsychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists or speech and language therapists who specialise in brain injury. They help you and your family to cope with the effects of a brain injury. They can also help with managing stress and creating effective coping strategies – allowing you to take each demanding situation one step at a time.
With the right brain injury support services, you and your family may start to feel as if life is on the way to becoming a little more 'normal' again.
How can Shoosmiths help?
At Shoosmiths, our area of expertise is supporting people to claim compensation for brain injuries that weren’t their fault. We work with you and your family to get the financial support you need to ensure you and your loved ones receive essential specialist care, rehabilitation, equipment, communication aids or adapted accommodation to enable you to rebuild and enjoy as full a life as possible.
We know, however, that no amount of money is going to undo the pain, suffering and distress an injury causes, so our dedicated team of legal experts go the extra mile to offer long-term help, advice and support.
Our experienced team can advise on:
- Benefits and financial support
- Brain injury rehabilitation
- Personal aids and adaptations
- Long-term care requirements
We have strong partnerships with leading brain charities and associations such as Headway, CBIT and the Brain Injury Group. This means we can put you in touch with a wide range of brain injury support services that are relevant to your unique situation.
Our specialist brain injury solicitors can also connect you to our other expert teams.
Learn more about making a brain injury compensation claim with Shoosmiths. If you would like to talk to a member of our team, please call 0370 086 8687 or send us a message using the enquiry form at the end of this article.
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2024
