Caring for a Loved One After a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Following a TBI, impairments can be subtle, unpredictable, emotionally draining, significantly impacting daily life over the long-term. Practical everyday strategies, such as adapted communication, a stable environment and routines, can reduce stress and provide an optimal environment for recovery.
One of the hardest parts of supporting someone who suffered a TBI is adjusting to the cognitive and behavioural changes. Depending on injury severity, people affected by TBI may show disturbances ranging from lack of motivation to agitation. Other cognitive impairments are also not rare, including difficulty thinking clearly, focusing, multitasking, and also memory problems. They may feel disoriented, forgetting recent events, or even struggling to remember who they are. For families and caregivers, these post-TBI impairments can pose a real struggle to take care of the person.
Disorientation is frequent in severe TBI. In this case, it is important to regularly remind your loved one of the date, time, place, and what is happening around them. Simple cues like “It’s Tuesday morning, you’re in the hospital, and you’re safe” can help reduce confusion. If the person seems to be frustrated, avoid questioning, arguing, or correcting them in the moment, since this can escalate agitation. Instead, remain calm, steady tone, use short sentences and redirect when needed.
While medical support is essential to stabilize the patient and to minimize the risk of complications, familiar comfort can play a powerful role. As described by Dr. Mea Sung, neuro-recovery specialist, “Bringing familiar objects or photos can help with comfort and orientation. Sometimes, even something as simple as their favourite blanket or music can make a big difference.”
It is also critical to prevent fatigue and emotional overload; hence you may keep visits short, limit them to one visitor at a time, and aim for a quiet, low-stimulating environment.
Learn more about Caring for Someone after TBI with Dr Mea Sung
Discharge is a major milestone, but it can also feel daunting. The patient may still suffer from several impairments; hence your empathy and patience are essential. A positive home environment can improve mood, and routines offer stability during the recovery process.
Sleep deserves special attention; a healthy sleep cycle may help to reduce mood fluctuations. Support this by using blackout curtains to reduce excessive light at night, while ensuring plenty of natural daylight during the day to reinforce the body’s natural rhythm.
Finally, make caregiving sustainable. Caregivers need rest, support, and breaks, because caring for yourself gives you the strength to care for someone else.
TBI can have significant impact on daily life with frequent cognitive impairments. Gentle re-orientation, soft communication, stage-specific support, and stable routines, can provide a favourable environment for a stable recovery phase.
Recovery takes time, but consistent and compassionate support can make a meaningful difference.
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Moleac is a biopharmaceutical company committed to helping patients and their families reconnect with their lives.
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This document does not constitute the practice of medical consultation nor medical advice. Always seek the advice of your treating physician and/or specialist.
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