Social Rehabilitation following TBI

Following the initial phase of treatment following a severe ABI in hospital some individuals are able to access treatment in a rehabilitation centre. This usually involves a multidisciplinary team approach involving treatment from Medical staff, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Clinical Neuropsychologists, Nurses etc. and the main aim is to increase their functional independence.

Following discharge back to the community from rehabilitation centres, individuals can often find that rehabilitation and support services are very difficult to gain access to.

Following this clinical rehabilitation phase, individuals will need a more Social Rehabilitation approach. Head Forward offers a service, which can help in this phase.

A recent research carried out in Head Forward Centre (Salas et al. 2016) identified four major issues with which survivors need to deal: (1) Cognitive and Behavioral Problems; (2) Disruption of their Social Life by loosing old friends; (3) Difficulty of Making new friends; and, (4) Difficulties in establishing relationships with others in a similar position.

Whilst clinical rehabilitation programs are good at tackling the first issue, The Head Forward Centre is specialized in helping with the other 3. This is achieved by providing a platform in which attendees can relate to other attendees and staff with confidence. An atmosphere is created at the Centre, in which social pressures are reduced and attendees are helped to re-connect themselves and with the wider social world.

”The Head Forward Centre continues to provide a social environment where attendees can make friends, receive counselling, discuss issues of personal concern and readjust themselves socially at their own pace. A unique feature of the Head Forward Centre is that the staff, volunteers, trustees and members of the management committee all have either personal involvement in caring for a seriously head-injured relative, or are professionals with particular expertise or experience in the welfare and rehabilitation of patients with brain injury.”

David Neary MD FRCP, Professor of Neuroscience, Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre.

At the Head Forward Centre, we can advise you and your family. Also, we may be able to offer you a place in which you can interact with other people who have, or have had similar issues.

We aim to deliver long-term social rehabilitation. We also like to think we can offer you some fun and joy in a social environment, where you meet people and can develop your self and increase your confidence.

If you have any questions or would like any further information please contact us.