Brain Waves: UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Newsletter Volume 17 | Number 2 | Page 4

TBI INFORMATION SPOTLIGHT
Caregiver Support
BrainLine
BrainLine offers caregivers, family,
and friends basic information about
caring for a loved one with TBI; legal
and financial guidance; workplace
rights for caregivers; support group
information; and advice about
caregiver burnout among other
topics. Here is an outline of the
information BrainLine.
Caregiver Basics
Caring for someone with TBI is a
challenge. There is a lot to learn, a lot
to manage, and a lot of work. Here is
some basic information about caring
for your loved one and finding the
support you need.
Family Relationships
Whether you are caring for a
partner, a spouse, a parent, or a
child, family dynamics will change.
Here is some basic information
about family relationships and some
hard-earned wisdom from caregivers
sharing their stories.
Caregiver Emotions
Taking care of someone with
TBI or PTSD can be exhausting
and enormously stressful. Most
caregivers know what it is like to feel
lonely, anxious, depressed, guilty, or
angry. Here are some ways to cope
with these emotions.
Staying Positive
Caregiving is a tough job.
Caregivers say the job can be a little
easier if you can find a path toward
accepting what cannot change,
sustaining hope, accepting help, and
finding some things to be thankful
for. Here is information on doing that.
Health & Self-Care
For many caregivers, the hardest
thing is finding some time and space
to take care of their own health and
some of their own needs. And to
accept that it is okay to do that. Here
is some information to help.
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uab.edu/tbi
Legal & Finances
When you care for someone
with a brain injury, you can quickly
get caught up in complex legal
and financial issues—dealing with
medical bills, insurance claims,
Social Security, estate planning and
more. Here is some information to
help guide you through the maze.
Military Caregiving
Caregivers play an indispensable
role in helping injured veterans to
recover more fully and to lead better
lives. But it is also an incredibly
demanding job. Here are ideas
and information for navigating this
journey and finding support.
Caregiver Personal Stories & Blogs
Caregivers share their ups
and downs, insights, and honest
moments of both despair and hope
as they take care of the person they
love.
Access to Respite Care and Help
National Respite Network and
Resource Center
ARCH National Respite Network
and Resource Center assists and
promotes the development of quality
respite and crisis care programs,
help families locate respite and crisis
care services in their communities,
and serves as a strong voice for
respite in all forums. The Network
includes
National Respite Locator
A service to help caregivers and
professionals locate respite services
in their community
National Respite Coalition
A service that advocates for
preserving and promoting respite in
policy and programs at the national,
state, and local levels.
Lifespan Respite Technical
Assistance Center
Coordinates systems of
community-based respite for family
caregivers of children or adults
regardless of special need.
National Center on Caregiving
The National Center on caregiving
(NCC) is a program of Family
Caregiver Alliance. NCC works
to advance the development of
high-quality, cost-effective policies
and programs for caregivers in
every state in the country. Uniting
research, public policy and services,
NCC serves as a central source of
information on caregiving and long-
term care issues for policy makers,
service providers, media, funders
and family caregivers throughout the
country. NCC services include:
Family Care Navigator
A first-of-its-kind, state-by-state,
online guide to help families in
all 50 states locate government,
nonprofit, and private caregiver
support programs. The Navigator
lists programs for family caregivers
as well as resources for older or
adults with disabilities living at home
or in a residential facility. It also
includes information on government
health and disability programs, legal
resources, living arrangements,
disease-specific organizations,
FAQs, and more.
Caregiving Across the States
Background characteristics related
to caregiving and aging as well
as information on publicly-funded
caregiver support programs for all 50
states
Caregiver Stories
This is the story-telling corner of our
website . . . learn from the wisdom
of experienced caregivers, or just be
reminded you are not alone.
Support Groups
Online and in-person support groups
— Each has a specific caregiving
focus.