Things are really hotting up for the festive season as we fast approach Christmas. The shops are busier with people, lights and noise which can be overwhelming to say the least. And sometimes even more so, if you have a brain injury. Our tips for the festive season This December, we’re sharing some tips to help you survive the madness! These tips are also useful to share with your family and friends to help them understand how you feel. Time and Rest After a brain injury, you need more rest than you used to. Your brain works differently after the injury and you can feel ‘brain tired’. It’s more tiring for your brain to think, process and organise. So remember to take a nap if you need a break. With all the Christmas food on the go, you won’t be the only one to shut your eyes! Avoiding crowds Too many noises can make it difficult to filter sounds in a crowded atmosphere for anyone, but especially after a brain injury. Noise cancelling earphones can be handy for some peace and calm amidst the hustle and bustle. Choose small social gatherings or shop online to avoid the crowded shops and […]
Under-funding As many of you will know, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is largely funded through Service Level Agreements with the Health Services Executive (HSE). We hugely value our relationship with the HSE and value our partnerships there. But we also face serious under-funding that is a constant threat to our ability to deliver services. Core costs You see, when funding only supports the service delivery costs, our organisation is denied essential funding for core business functions and governance. Why do we need this funding? The reality is that any organisation, including Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, cannot exist without also covering costs for vital business functions including finance, human resources and administration. Why this funding is vital Like any business: we work to the highest standards to account for all monies we receive and spend We work to ensure we observe all employee legislation and protect the rights of our staff We work to ensure our staff are trained to the highest standards to deliver brain injury rehabilitation We work to ensure all data adheres to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) We work to ensure all our services are compliant with HIQA and relevant legislation Need to grow our services As […]
19,000 lives turned upside down every year Nobody ever thinks a brain injury will happen to them. Yet as many as 19,000 lives are turned upside down annually in Ireland from newly acquired brain injuries. The biggest causes of brain injury that we see in our services are caused by stroke, road traffic accidents, assaults, falls and brain tumours. Young people stuck in nursing homes Too often people who acquire brain injuries are young. Due to lack of services available at the time of injury, we still see young people left in settings like nursing homes, community hospitals or sent home where families are unable to cope. Spread the word about brain injury This is why we need much greater awareness of brain injury. Because if more people like you understand about brain injury, that’s more people who will listen about the services we need to rebuild lives. We need to educate people about brain injury – our politicians, our communities, our health system – so that everyone understands the importance of investing in rehabilitation. One of the best ways we can do this is through sharing real life stories. Not enough data on brain injury Unfortunately, there is […]
When a brain injury happens, it can put lives on hold. It can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time. No-one ever thinks a brain injury will happen to them. One of our brain injury survivors Kieran Cullen, suffered a brain injury after a bleed on the brain caused by a road traffic accident six years ago. A talented poet, Kieran now shares the reality of what it’s like to suddenly find yourself living with a brain injury. This is Kieran’s poem, The Shock. The Shock Were you ever on your own, in a crowded place? When you couldn’t hear the throng And the ghost-like figures moved in waves Then you knew there was something wrong When your legs felt like feathers And your arms were to no avail Like a ship in the eye of a tempest Without anchor, keel or sail That’s the way it hits you Then the birds come home to roost Breathing becomes a labour Like the tightening of a noose A caring voice you long for Or helping hand, to guide But you are in isolation Can you take this in your stride? The next instant, you are surrounded by family And […]
Rehabilitation is a right, not a request: An appalling lack of brain injury rehabilitation services is devastating thousands of brain injury survivors and their families across the country who are left merely to exist. “Don’t Save Me, Then Leave Me,” was the wake-up call we delivered to politicians today. We presented the case for urgent investment in regional neuro-rehabilitation services in the Dáil AV Room. Forced to live in nursing homes 19,000 new brain injuries are acquired in Ireland annually from causes including stroke, road traffic accidents, falls, assaults and brain tumours. But despite more people surviving the major trauma of a brain injury, many young brain injury survivors are forced to live indefinitely in nursing homes or community hospitals without access to any rehabilitation to aid their recovery. No specialist rehab beds outside Dublin Additionally, many more are discharged home to families who are often unable to cope and struggling to understand the aftermath of brain injury. If you have a brain injury outside Dublin, there are no specialist rehabilitation beds available regionally. This is despite the need for regional rehabilitation centres being clearly outlined in the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy in 2011 and confirmed again in the 2019 Neuro Rehabilitation Implementation Framework. […]
