Brain Injury Association of New Jersey How Brain Injury Affects Families

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Emotional Impact of Brain Injury There is an initial grieving process that family members go through after their family member sustains a brain injury.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Stages of Grief Denial – will not easily accept the reality of the situation and may stand in the way of progress, may have the unrealistic expectation that their family member will fully recover

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Stages of Grief Anger & Frustration – frustration that can be directed at doctors, family, friends, themselves, professionals, the “state” and God

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Stages of Grief Depression and Withdrawal – when the family feels sad, hopeless and helpless about the loss, and can withdraw from everyone. This stage can be extremely painful for family members and can include restlessness, sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, difficulty concentrating, trouble making decisions, and trouble remembering things.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Stages of Grief Acceptance – the realization that nothing can make things as they were before, but life can be new and worthwhile

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Life Long Grief Issues Family members can move back and forth among the stages of grief as they progress through the recovery process and through the lifespan.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Life Changes and Grief Acceptance may not always be the end of grief. Family members can move back into grief during stages of transition or milestones. For example, when their child should be going to college or getting married, and isn’t.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Emotional Impact of Brain Injury The emotional impact of brain injury on families is lifelong and different for every injury and every family member.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Financial Cost of Brain Injury According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the lifetime costs for one person surviving a severe Traumatic Brain Injury can reach $4 million.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Financial Cost of Brain Injury The direct and indirect financial costs of brain injury for the family can be immeasurable.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Financial Cost of Brain Injury Loss of income – when a person with a brain injury is unable to work or a family member is unable to work because they need to be an at home caregiver

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Financial Cost of Brain Injury Money spent on expenses not covered by health insurance – when needed expenses, such as co-pays, prescriptions, ramps, diapers, home modifications, vehicle modifications, etc. are not covered by insurance

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Financial Cost of Brain Injury Money spent on services provided by the family and not reimbursed – home care, personal care, assisting with therapies at home, providing socialization, transportation, assistance with bill paying, reading, writing, housework, etc. that families provide because there is no one else to provide it

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Family Relationships Brain injury affects every family dynamic and relationship. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, in-laws.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Parental Relationships Parents of children, adolescents, and adults with brain injury become lifelong caregivers of their sons and daughters.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Sibling Relationships Siblings live with the consequence of having a sibling with a disability. They receive less attention from parents and take on a lifelong responsibility of worrying and caregiving.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Spousal Relationships A spouse’s relationship can shift mildly or drastically from one of partner to one of caregiver.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Child Relationships The child of a parent with a brain injury can experience a role reversal. They can end up caring for their parent early in their lives, and receive less attention from the parent providing caregiving.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Living with Brain Injury Brain injury affects a family forever on a daily basis. It changes the roles and responsibilities of family members. The change can be so drastic it can be similar to bringing a stranger home from the hospital with you.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Living with Brain Injury Just as each brain injury is unique, so each family member’s reaction and coping ability will be unique. The stress of caregiving will have a different effect on each individual, and some may appear to cope better than others.

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Variables of Brain Injury Age at the time of injury – brain injury occurs throughout the lifespan – it can occur during infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, adulthood, and older adulthood – different ages at the time of injury will have different affects on the family

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Variables of Brain Injury Severity of injury – injuries can be mild, moderate, or severe – the severity of an injury will affect how a family copes with that injury

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Variables of Brain Injury Types of insurance & finances – a family’s insurance and finances affects both the care of a person with a brain injury and the family – the negative consequences could include foreclosure, eviction, bankruptcy, divorce, poverty, unemployment, etc. and all of these will affect a family

Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Just as each injury is unique, each family’s response to the injury will be unique.