Individuals living with brain injury and their loved ones are proving they’re a close-knit bunch at PA Hospital’s Acquired Brain Injury Transitional Rehabilitation Service (ABI TRS).
They’ve been busy crocheting dozens of individual squares which will be joined together with thousands more from across the country to make Brisbane’s biggest beanie for Brain Injury Awareness Week.
“We knew there were a number of people who were into craft, so therapists have been encouraging them to reestablish that interest by participating in this initiative,” said Senior Speech Pathologist Kate Cameron.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to contribute and everyone has been really motivated by the task.”
ABI TRS offers specialist brain injury rehabilitation immediately after clients leave hospital. It is a 10-week program based at home, in the community, and at the Burke Street Centre.
“It’s really about supporting patients and their families as they transition out of hospital and into the community,” said Kate.
“We focus on functional, meaningful client directed goals to get people back into their activities. This is done through individual and group programs, but a lot is also done in the home because we see the best outcomes in real-life spaces.”
The service was initially a pilot project but is now permanently funded and makes a meaningful difference for patients discharged from PAH’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (BIRU).
Senior Social Worker Sally Wooler said she’s motivated every day by the positive impact of the service through the practical support and education on offer.
“We play an important part in not only helping the individual that’s had the brain injury but also their family because often loved ones aren’t working anymore or children are adjusting to a parent having a brain injury. We help them live a new normal,” she said.
“It’s really an honour to be able to travel that part of their journey with them and just normalise the emotional aspect. We provide reassurance that it’s okay for them to be feeling however they are.
“The feedback we get from people is ‘what would we have done if your service didn’t exist.’”
This Brain Injury Awareness Week we’re saying a huge thank you to Kate, Sally, the ABI TRS team, and all of our hardworking staff who care for patients during a difficult time in their lives.