According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 138 people in California and across the country die every day due to injuries that includes a traumatic brain injury. Hundreds of thousands more people are diagnosed with the condition every year. At Callahan & Blaine, we know how difficult it can be to watch your loved one experience a TBI and the resulting symptoms. Here are a few things you can do to help.
One of the most important items is to have a basic understanding of what the victim may experience during recovery and moving forward. As the CDC notes, someone who has suffered mild to severe brain trauma may have one, some or all of the following:
Through speaking with your loved one or his or her doctor, you can gain a better sense of the help that may be needed. Some people recover fairly quickly with few lingering effects. Others, however, may spend a significant amount of time in the hospital.
Experts advise that friends and family can help a loved one transition back home through doing some practical tasks around the house. It may be beneficial to rearrange furniture so the injured can easily get around. Additionally, labeling cabinets and drawers with their contents can be helpful. Many people with TBI do well when they have a routine. Mapping out what will happen every day can help someone feel organized and confident.
Everyone who suffers a brain injury will have a different experience and require different levels of assistance. For more information on this topic, please visit our page regarding traumatic brain injuries.