Employment
Prior to injury, most survivors of brain injury were employed and were financially independent. Reentering the world of work is often a priority for the individual.
The one to one programming statistics includes Employment Services. Several brain injury societies have discrete programs that focus on employment.
For other societies, providing clients with supports related to accessing and maintaining employment is part of regular one to one programming.
Many clients also access generic employment services (typically WorkBC), however they are more likely to be successful with obtaining and maintaining employment with the support of a brain injury society case manager.
Brain injury society staff have an in-depth understanding of the client and can help problem solve issues related to brain injury.
Reduced Client Involvement with Medical/Hospital Services
Brain injury organizations reported that programs that received Alliance funding had an impact on reducing client involvement with medical/hospital services.
A study found that about 36 per cent of patients with TBI had been re-hospitalized within three years of their initial injury due to a variety of factors. Previously, readmission rates had been reported at about 25 per cent. In contrast, the study found the risk of re-hospitalization was lower for TBI patients involved in motor vehicle collisions. “We know that patients with TBI resulting from motor vehicle collisions are more than 50 per cent more likely to be discharged with support services than those who sustained their injury from other causes, likely due to supplemental auto insurance,” Dr. Colantonio said. “Because these patients appear to use fewer subsequent hospital services, this may suggest that additional care and rehabilitation provided earlier to all people with TBI could reduce the high costs of readmission.1
“The Interior Health Community Response Team collaborates with BrainTrust to support high risk clients – to assess mental health issues and to stabilize clients. We also ensure clients are able to access medical supports (doctors).”
BrainTrust
Every brain injury society has reported that funding through the Alliance has resulted in:
- an increase to the numbers of clients served
- an increase in community partnerships obtained through community outreach and engagement
- an increase in the number of staff, staff retention and staffing hours, all of which result in improved service delivery to people living with acquired brain injury
“Alliance funds allow us to hire Support Workers who support those clients who are living with the aftermath of acquired brain injury. Without Alliance funds, NOSBIS would be unable to have Support Workers on staff to provide services and the Support Worker Program would be discontinued. Pulling these services from clients who have come to rely on them would have devastating consequences for the current upward-trajectory in their progress to increased independence.”
North Okanagan Brain Injury Society
“Brain Injury Alliance funding has enabled Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association to expand the number of programs offered to people with acquired brain injuries and their supporters. It has helped us to provide services in two more communities (Langley and Mission, BC) on a much broader scale than we were able to before with the addition of one staff person.”
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association
- Re-hospitalization rates for traumatic brain injury higher than previously reported (2015, May 25) retrieved 25 May 2015 /
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-05-re-hospitalization-traumatic-brain-injury-higher.html [↩]