How to support someone with an acquired brain injury

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For anyone you know going through treatment and recovery for an acquired brain injury, it can be a difficult and traumatic time for them, where your support is invaluable, no matter how hands on.

If you are taking a more hands on approach with a loved one now living with an acquired brain injury, there’s a lot you need to consider, from finding new routines that suit them to even just understanding the complexities of the injury itself. That can be daunting, but if you break down the steps and areas of support they need and where you need help it can become more manageable.

So, here are five tips that could make all the difference both for your loved one living with the injury and yourself.

Understand the Nature of the Injury

Obviously, one of the first steps you should take is understanding the injury. Brain injuries can vary significantly and understanding the severity and how it’s affected your loved one is a must. It may be that they’re struggling with memory loss, have impaired motor skills, have seen their behaviour entirely change.

Take the tiem to learn about their condition and how it impacts their daily life and it’ll have a huge impact on how you provide support, both practically and emotionally.

Encourage Patience and Understanding

Recovering from a brain injury can be slow and unpredictable. There can be plenty of setbacks on the way and it is a case of taking baby steps. That can generate the likes of frustration, discouragement and even confusion at points, particularly if they are struggling to relearn skills that once came easy.

Here you need to show patience and understanding and let them know that there’s no pressure on the speed of recovery, it’s important to go at a pace that suits them. Celebrate the small victories and reassure them that they are making progress, even if it is incremental. This can help build confidence and ensure they stay on the right pathway to recovery.

Provide Emotional Support

A person’s emotional wellbeing can fluctuate greatly, especially as they deal with the setbacks and frustrations of it. It’s not uncommon for people living with a brain injury to feel anxious, depressed or isolated as they try and cope with the changes in their life.

Providing emotional support is crucial and being a shoulder to cry on or a person to discuss their emotions with can be hugely beneficial. Listen without judgement and provide them with that safe space to express their fears and thoughts.

It may be that they now struggle to express their feelings and emotions due to cognitive impairment, so consider non-verbal forms of communication to make them feel at ease. Equally, it may be that professional help can further help with providing emotional support and should be looked into.

Help with Daily Routines

Many individuals with brain injuries struggle to manage everyday tasks due to memory problems, fatigue, or difficulty focusing. Helping them establish a structured daily routine can provide a sense of stability and reduce stress.

Consider using tools like calendars, checklists, or smartphone reminders to keep track of important tasks and appointments. Breaking activities down into smaller, more manageable steps can also make daily tasks less overwhelming. Be mindful of the fact that the person may tire more easily than they did before the injury, and allow for frequent breaks.

You may need to assist with specific tasks such as meal preparation, transportation, or household chores. However, whenever possible, encourage the individual to take part in activities that promote independence. This can help boost their confidence and contribute to their overall recovery.

Promote Rehabilitation and Social Involvement

Finally, promote rehabilitation and social involvement as these can help accelerate progress. Therapies like physical, occupation and speech can improve motor skills and cognitive functioning, while speech therapy may also be an option too.

This active participation in rehabilitation can be really valuable for both progress and confidence, while staying socially engaged can also continue that as well as boosting mental health.

Brain injuries can often lead to people withdrawing from social parts of their life, with worries about how they may be perceived or by how much they can contribute. Encourage them to reconnect with friends or join support groups so they can meet others facing the same challenges. It really can make all the difference.

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