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Michael Paul Mason, BrainLine
Do you know of any affordable respite care for fulltime caregivers caring for a loved one with TBI?
It's a fact — families need all the help they can get when caring for a loved one with a brain injury. Unfortunately, respite care services are either expensive or simply not available in many areas.
Some states, however, provide access to respite care services through a variety of different programs. I suggest you start by contacting your State Head Injury Administrator and asking that person if your state has any resources for the respite care of a person with a brain injury.
If you have trouble finding a respite care service, try contacting a nearby nursing facility — preferably one that has experience in caring for people with brain injuries. You may be able to negotiate a suitable rate based on your loved one's particular needs.
And finally, if you are a member of a family or caregiver support group, ask the other group members. They may have some inspired ideas.
Michael Paul Mason has served as an editor for two literary publications, and has appeared on several national media outlets, including the Lehrer Newshour, CBS News, and NPR's Morning Edition.
His writings have appeared in several newspapers and magazines, including Discover, The New York Times, and The Believer. Mason remains active as a lecturer and speaker. Mason has also built a reputation for noteworthy journalism. When Mason's article, "Dead Men Walking", appeared in Discover magazine, it ignited a national debate about the treatment of brain injured soldiers. Mason has since traveled to Iraq to report on healthcare and humanitarian issues.
Mason's first book, Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath is an exploration into the harsh realities endured by brain injury survivors. While currently a brain injury projects manager at the Neurologic Rehabilitation Institute at Brookhaven Hospital, Mason continues to advocate on behalf of Americans with brain injury and is involved with several national legislative initiatives.
He is currently the founding editor of This Land, a monthly magazine based in Tulsa. He is also at work on a non-fiction book called The Human Assembly: The Discovery, History, and Industry of our Parts, Tissues, and Organs.
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