Brain injury can impact your entire family including spouses, parents, children, aunts, and uncles. Each family member can react to the injury differently. The following guide was created for families and caregivers. It offers information to help with coping and adjustment to brain injury. It includes tips and advice on caring for yourself. There are tips for each stage of recovery, starting with the early hours and days after brain injury. It also includes information on rehabilitation and return to the community.
Tips and action items for families to complete to help their loved one after brain injury.
Challenges, Changes, and Choices: A Brain Injury for Families and Caregivers
PDF from the Brain Injury Association of America
How will I adjust and cope with this severe brain injury?
Recovery from a severe brain injury takes a long time. Family adjustment to brain injury is a process that also takes time. Feelings of fear, grief, and loss are normal. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially in the first days and weeks after the injury. Try to take things one day at a time. You can feel more prepared for what lies ahead by learning more about what to expect for your loved one’s recovery.
Advice for families on coping and adjustment, including ideas for how you can take care of yourself during this difficult time.
How Families and Caregivers Can Cope after Brain Injury
From Craig Hospital
Information on caring for a loved one after a brain injury, topics include advocacy, caring for yourself, coping, and adjustment.
"Becoming a Family Caregiver" - Module 3 of the DVBIC Family Caregiver Curriculum
PDF from Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center hosted on BrainLine
Helpful tips to take care of yourself as a caregiver.
8 Essential Caregiver Coping Strategies
From BrainLine
Information on the grieving process.
Grief and Loss
From Family Caregiver Alliance
How to adjust to life when you are no longer a caregiver for your loved one.
When Caregiving Ends
From Family Caregiver Alliance
Religious/Spiritual Support
Many people have religious or spiritual beliefs and practices that contribute to health and quality of life. As you cope with your loved one’s injury, receiving support from a local faith or spiritual group can help you get through difficult challenges and offer an outlet for self-care. Many hospitals and facilities have spiritual support through Chaplains who minister to people of all faiths and those with no religious affiliation and may be an important part of recovery. Reaching out to your own spiritual support may be important as you manage during this time.
Nurturing spirituality is an important part of recovery after a brain injury. Listed here are websites to support spiritual needs:
From Bereavement to Belonging – Nurturing Spirituality After Brain Injury
From Craig Hospital
If you are new to exploring spirituality and religious beliefs, here is an introduction to exploring many different religions and spiritual practices:
Spirituality & Practice: Resources for Spiritual Journeys
From Spirituality & Practice
Sample prayers and mantras in many spiritual practices:
Prayers and Mantras from different faiths
From Spirituality & Practice
How do I manage the stress I feel?
Brain injury can cause significant stress for families and caregivers. The following resources provide information on managing stress after brain injury.
"Taking Care of Yourself" - Chapter 4 of the DVBIC Family Caregiver Curriculum
PDF from Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center hosted on BrainLine
Stress Management Following Brain Injury: Strategies for Families and Caregivers
From BrainLine
How do I help my children understand severe brain injury?
Brain injury is difficult and confusing for children. The following resource focuses on how to talk about brain injury with children.
"Helping Your Children Cope with TBI" - Chapter 5 of the DVBIC Family Caregiver Curriculum
PDF from Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center hosted on BrainLine
How do I support our marriage after a brain injury?
Brain Injury can alter the relationship between spouses. Brain injury can change the dynamics of a marriage. This resource provides information on brain injury and its impact on marriage and relationships.
"How Can I Preserve My Marriage or Relationship?" - Chapter 6 of the DVBIC Family Caregiver Curriculum
PDF from Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center hosted on BrainLine
The following website offers information on changes in relationships after brain injury. This website provides short factsheets. It includes videos describing relationship changes from spouses of survivors.
Relationships After Traumatic Brain Injury
From Model Systems Knowledge Translation Systems (MSKTC)