Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI Ireland) today announced the publication of new research from Trinity College Dublin, examining the vital role of ABI Case Managers in Ireland’s neuro-rehabilitation pathway.

The study, The role of Acquired Brain Injury Case Managers in the rehabilitation pathway in Ireland, provides an in-depth analysis of how specialist Case Managers support survivors of brain injury and their families to navigate fragmented services, prevent inappropriate nursing home placements, and access the supports they need to rebuild their lives.

The work by Dr Katharine Schulmann, Veronica Segerstrom and Professor Sara Burke, represents the first phase of the commissioned research.

Commissioned by ABI Ireland and conducted by researchers at the Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin, the report is published at a critical time ahead of the announcement of budget 2026 and as support continues to be sought across the sector for full rollout of the National Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy Implementation Plan.

Key findings of the research: 

• Case Managers are essential “glue”: ABI Case Managers act as advocates, navigators, and coordinators – a bridge between acute hospitals, rehabilitation services, and community supports.
• Preventing inappropriate nursing home placements: Their intervention often prevents young people with brain injury being placed in nursing homes due to a lack of coordinated care.
• Unequal access across Ireland: While ABI Ireland currently employs nine Case Managers across 12 counties, 14 counties remain without coverage, leaving many survivors without vital supports.
• Barriers to impact: Lack of systemic recognition, under-resourcing, and role ambiguity limit the full potential of the service.
• Recommendations: The research calls for formal recognition of ABI Case Managers as a core element of Ireland’s neuro-rehabilitation pathway, equitable provision nationwide, and the development of a national case management framework to define and standardise the role.

Commenting on the research, Dr Karen Foley, Chief Executive, ABI Ireland, called for adequate resourcing and recognition of this vital role:

“For years we have campaigned for equitable access to brain injury case management, including in our pre-budget submission for 2026. Case Managers provide survivors and families with a single point of contact, ensuring no one is left to face their recovery journey alone. They are the bridge between acute hospitals, rehabilitation services, and community supports, preventing inappropriate placements and creating sustainable recovery pathways.”

Professor Sara Burke, Associate Professor and Director, Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin, commented:

“This study strongly supports case management as a core part of the neuro-rehabilitation model of care. Using focus groups with Case Managers, clinicians and referrers, we identified how the role adapts to fill critical gaps in the system. We are very grateful to the staff of ABI Ireland who supported this work, and to the participants who shared their experiences. Their insights point clearly to the need for equitable, standardised provision of case management across the state.”

The value of the case management role is reflected in the lived experience of Tony Baker, a stroke survivor who has received support through ABI Ireland’s case management service in County Meath:

“After my stroke, I didn’t know where to turn. My Case Manager was the person who made everything clear – from appointments and services, to how I could live independently again. Without that support, I don’t know where I would be today.”

This report represents the first phase of the research commission by ABI Ireland. A forthcoming second phase will apply a health economics perspective, assessing the costs and benefits of the ABI Case Management model.

The report is dedicated to the memory of Peter Bradley, whose generous donation to ABI Ireland made the research possible.

Peter’s story is at the heart of ABI Ireland. His sister, Barbara O’Connell, and her husband Maurice founded the organisation to ensure Peter – and others like him – could move out of inappropriate nursing home placements and live meaningful lives in the community with access to rehabilitation. Peter passed away in 2023, but his legacy lives on through ABI Ireland’s mission to passionately serve and empower people impacted by brain injury every day.