A Community Collaboration Between IU Health and St. Vincent Health
Brain Injury Coping Skills Group is a 16-session group treatment that meets for two hours each week. The treatment is provided to the survivor of brain injury AND his or her caregiver / family. Participants in this group will learn about the effects of brain injury, what to expect in terms of recovery, the important role that family plays in rehabilitation, signs and symptoms of depression, and ways of managing challenging behavioral and emotional situations after brain injury. Participants will also learn to develop good stress management and problem-solving skills and will how to better cope with the effects of the injury on a long-term basis. Finally, goal-management training is provided and survivors are guided on how to accomplish certain rehabilitation goals that are deemed meaningful to them. The group allows both survivors and caregivers to be involved in the rehabilitation process by learning pertinent skills needed to improve overall recovery, and it provides a supportive environment for individuals going through rehabilitation to meet others and share similar concerns.
The peer mentoring service pairs patients who have experienced brain injuries (or a caregiver), with someone who has experienced something similar. Whether you have experienced a brain injury, or someone who has taken care of a loved one with a brain injury, you may be looking for support. Individuals going through these challenges often experience feelings of loneliness, loss of friends and support, loss of things that they can do, loss of identity, or are just looking to connect with someone who really understands what it is like to go through something similar. This program pairs trained volunteers up with individuals who would like additional support along the way and helps those individuals better deal with the effects of the challenges from the brain injury.
Is done in collaboration with the Brain Injury Association of Indiana. In 2007, this group won the Brain Injury Association of Indiana Support Group of the Year award. The Bridging the Gapsupport group is for survivors of brain injury and their family and caregivers. It is intended to meet the needs of individuals not only going through the process of outpatient therapies, but also for those who have either been discharged from treatments or have never received treatments.
Bridging the Gap meets the fourth Monday of every month at the Neuro Rehab Center from 7-9pm. Typical group sessions varies from splitting out caregivers and survivors into different sessions and providing support, problem-solving through pertinent situations, goal-setting, and providing information about return-to-work, increasing social interactions, return to driving, dealing with medication issues, Medicaid, disability, or any other issue that is deemed important. Apart from the monthly meetings, social gatherings are also held to decrease social loneliness and increase support in the community.
When not in therapy, patients typically rest, visit with friends and family, or find some form of recreation.
Yes! Families are strongly encouraged to attend therapy sessions to observe and ask questions, especially those who will be the primary caregiver after discharge.
Patients have 3-5 hours of therapy a day during the week. Weekend therapy is reduced to allow you to rest and visit with family and friends.
Inpatient therapy begins at 8:30a.m.
