Brain Waves: UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Newsletter Volume 13 | Number 2 | Page 3

•

•

•

to avoid doing too much in a
day. Do one thing in the morning
(outpatient rehab, exercise,
appointments, etc.) and take it
easy in the afternoon.
Set limits with visitors. People
often want to visit after you get
home. They may have good
intentions, but visitors often do
not understand the complexities
of TBI. It is usually best to simply
have quiet time to recover and
establish a daily routine.
Keep a schedule. Patients usually
follow a strict schedule during
rehab. That schedule may or may
not work for you at home, but it is
important to establish and closely
follow a schedule that works for
you. This includes setting times
for daily activities and sleep time.
Use your smartphone. In a
previous issue of Brain Waves,
we featured a number of apps
that we considered to be helpful
for organizing tasks, reminders
and appointments. Newer apps
(Google app for android, Siri for
Apple, and Cortana for Windows)
can act as your own personal
assistant and help you avoid
feeling overwhelmed.

Establish Healthy Habits
Too often, people with TBI settle
into unhealthy habits after injury. Their
diet is unhealthy, and they spend too
much time on the computer, playing

video games, or watching TV.
Physical activity is not usually
recommended too soon after injury,
but, once cleared by the doctor,
everyone with TBI can benefit from a
healthy diet and physically activity. In
fact, many activities enjoyed before
TBI are often enjoyable after injury,
even if adjustments are needed to
safely do them. Trying new activities
can also be fun.
• The National Center on Health,
Physical Activity and Disability
is a great resource to help guide
people with TBI to safely maintain
a healthy lifestyle with physical
activity and proper nutrition.

• Respite for caregivers. Providing

Use Available Support
If you are a person with TBI or
family member, you are not alone!
And you have some valuable
resources to help you when needed.
• Peer support. Your rehab team
can likely arrange for you to talk
with others in your area that have
been where you are and learned
how to manage day-to-day
activities.
• Brainline.org is an excellent
resource for families affected
by TBI. It provides a sense of
community, and it is a place
where you can go 24 hours a
day for information, support,
and ideas. Brainlinemilitary.
org targets the unique needs
of military families.

•

•

care for someone with TBI can
be taxing. You absolutely have to
take care of yourself to provide
the best care for your loved one.
Taking short periods of relief from
your duties is one of the best
ways to take care of yourself.
Participate in activities that allow
you to relax and have fun. Do not
be afraid to ask for help if needed,
and do not refuse help if offered.
The Caregiver Community Action
Network is the nation’s leading
family caregiver organization
working to improve the quality
of life for people who care for a
loved one.
Independent Living Research
Utilization offers a list of Center 0