West and East Kootenay Brain Injury Association received funding for critical expenses and to hire outreach workers to provide brain injury services to the East Kootenays.
Outreach workers have now supported over 75 clients on a weekly basis with the extra funding from the Brain Injury Alliance, with the communities of Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood, Golden, Invermere, Creston and Revelstoke also provided with additional direct service hours per week.
The East Kootenay region was facing drastic decreases in hours and services. By obtaining this funding, WKBIA outreach workers have been able to sustain and improve services in all the areas. One great outcome is that WKBIA now provides brain injury services in Revelstoke, which had gone without service for over 5 years.
Thanks to the WKBIA for providing support to us members here in the East Kootenay’s. The ABI programs are amazing and helpful. The information has been a tremendous help. The Tai Chi program is allowing me to move with a different awareness, and being in the group environment seems to help. Just knowing I have a worker to talk to has given me the feeling I’m not abandoned, or alone on this journey. This service is a life saver. I was near the end of my rope, and felt there was no help. Lives have been helped and enriched. Thank you.
I am so happy to tell you that the letter to my daughter in Ontario that my worker helped me complete was well received. I sent this to her with a birthday card, hoping to make amends after years of being estranged. She called me after she opened it. She now understands how I feel about her, and all the trouble I’ve had since I’ve had my brain injury. She and I cried a lot, and she is going to continue to talk to me now that she sees how I feel about her. Bless you for this funding that allowed me the opportunity to get my life back with my family. ~ J.R. – Kimberely
I first arrived at the West Kootenay Brain Injury Association at the end of November 2015. At that time I was very suicidal – I had a plan, and I was done living my life. Thanks to this Association and the invaluable, gentle, and competent outreach worker, I am alive today, and I want to be alive. The peer group has provided me with an essential, no-pressure, accepting group of people to socialize with. I am a humbled and grateful human being. ~ J.C. – Creston
The gym program has moved me ahead to walking without a cane, and huge weight loss, which has been a great benefit to my health overall. The groups and skill groups makes me get out into the community and be social, rather than sit at home. It also gives my wife a break away from being a care giver. ~B.F. – Golden
I love attending the groups and have fun with other people. Without this group and my worker, I would spend all day doing nothing. I am not a social person after my head injury, and find it difficult to go into public. My support worker has helped me to overcome my anxiety, and I am going out of my house regularly. This support means everything to me. Knowing I have someone who is going to call and check in with me regularly, gives me reason to exist. ~ J.E. – Revelstoke
With this support I was able to get my grade 12 at my own speed, and the one to one support I needed to accomplish my goal. The gym program helps with motivation to move forward, and adds a positive impact on my overall health. The peer groups are great to help keep my focus on my goals, and gives me a safe place to vent my thoughts and frustrations from the day. ~ M.P. – Invermere
Groups give me an outing, and communication with others dealing with memory issues. It also gives me the support to challenge myself. Information booth is my favorite, as we are in the community. I enjoy speaking to others, and giving out information on head injury. I need to be motivated or I stay at home. I need community involvement, and a one to one worker to help me. ~ J.A. – Golden
My brother has had a completely positive attitude with the group. It has opened up his world to other people in the same boat. At first, our family, was worried that him being given the label of “brain injury” would have a bad stigma, but he has always been very positive about it, and enjoys sharing this group with other “brain injured” individuals. He is always eager to attend, and there are a variety of events offered. He especially enjoys the social outings, games, and being accepted into a peer group where he can enjoy himself. Our family was always hoping he would find a close friend so he is not so isolated in Kaslo, or that services would be more accessible for him. By him joining this group, it has taken added stress and concern off our family, knowing he has support and opportunities to attend these meetings. He joins in whenever he can! ~ B.S. – Kaslo
