How can a Live-in Carer support someone who has an Acquired Brain Injury?
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Most people who have an Acquired Brain Injury would choose to stay living in the comfort of their own home. Familiar surroundings are comforting and there is often a support network of friends and family locally. With full-time Live-in care support, you are provided with 24-hour care focused on your individual needs. You can tailor the Live-in service to ensure you are able to enjoy a high quality of life. Also tailor the service to maintain control and choice to live as independently as possible.
Acquired Brain Injuries are sudden and life changing. Symptoms of an Acquired Brain Injury can include physical effects and fatigue. They can also include behavioural changes, cognitive and emotional effects, and communication difficulties. All of these can be safely managed in the home with the expert support of a Live-in Carer. Professionals involved in your care will give guidance and support to you and your Support Worker about managing your symptoms.
An Occupational Therapist can assess you and your home for any equipment needed for your personalised care. This will ensure your home is suitable for your needs and your Live-in Carer can support you safely. Your Live-in Carer or Support Worker will be experienced with all types of mobility aids and equipment. They will help you to manage the effects of your Acquired Brain Injury and adjust to any new requirements.
Just some of the help a Live-in Carer/Support Worker can offer:
Support with personal care
- Your Live-in Carer will support you at times and in ways that you choose. This might include bathing, showering, dressing, and undressing and general support with your personal appearance. Your appearance need not suffer because you have an Acquired Brain Injury! Your Live-in Support Worker will listen to your preferences and how you like things to be done and help accordingly.
Support with continence
- Accessing the bathroom, using the loo, or more complex support such as catheter and stoma care where required. Having an Acquired Brain Injury can result in problems relating to your bladder & bowels due to muscle weakness. We introduce Live-in Carers and Support Workers who have the right experience & training who know exactly how to help you. They will also be able to monitor and track any changes.
Support with mobility
- An Acquired Brain Injury can cause muscle weakness or paralysis often down one side of the body. Your movement might be slow, and your balance may be affected causing you difficulties getting around. This can be frustrating, challenging or even prevent you from doing different activities. Our experienced Live-in Carers and Support Workers are there to help you in any way they can. That might be helping you transfer, hoisting, or just being there to help give you confidence when you are walking. They will also be happy to help you with your exercises and ongoing rehabilitation. Knowing your Live-in Carer is there if you should fall or have an accident can help with worry. It will also give you and your family reassurance and peace of mind.
Assisting with medication
– Your Live-in Carer or Support Worker will be fully trained in the safe administration of medication. They will be happy to support you with ordering and collecting prescriptions. They can gently prompt if needed when medication is due and can support you with pain management. Your Live-in Carer can help you liaise with your GP if any changes are needed.
Domestic Duties
- The day-to-day running of the home, including hoovering, other light housework, and laundry. Some of our Live-in Carers also love gardening. Following an Acquired Brain Injury your eyesight may be affected. Your Live-in Carer or Support Worker can also help in this respect. This might include reading labels, dealing with correspondence, and helping with shopping online.
Preparing and Cooking Meals
– Prepared to your likes using fresh ingredients, ensuring you are provided with a nutritious and balanced diet. Your fully trained Live-in Support Worker will accommodate any special dietary requirements. After an Acquired Brain Injury your sense of smell and taste may be affected. This can lead to loss of appetite and subsequent loss of enjoyment in eating. Your Support Worker will be aware of this and will prepare meals that are interesting, palatable, and tempting.
Companionship
– Chatting and watching TV or listening to music together. A lot of our Live-in Carers stay with their clients for a long time and become friends. Feeling companionship is a vital part of maintaining emotional wellbeing.
Pet Care
– Our Live-in carers and Support Workers will enjoy helping you take care of your beloved pets. That may include walking them, feeding them and arranging or supporting with vet visits when needed. Pets can be an amazing way of calming anxiety and reducing stress levels associated with many conditions including Acquired Brain Injury.
Support to arrange and attend activities in and out of the home
- Maintaining relationships with visits to friends and family or attending places of interest to you. This might include shopping, community groups and clubs, theatre, visits to your hairdresser, etc. A Live-in Support Worker will facilitate and welcome your loved ones to visit you at home.
Support with your physical and mental health
– Rehabilitation is an integral part of managing your symptoms following an Acquired Brain Injury. You may find you have to learn new skills and re-learn existing skills. Your Live-in Carer will help you with your daily exercises and ongoing physical therapy with support from your professional physiotherapist. They will work as part of a team with others involved in your care. Your Live-in Support Worker will be able to support and accompany you to GP and hospital appointments. An experienced Live-in Carer will understand the emotional impact that an Acquired Brain Injury can have on their client. They will be sensitive to your needs and understand the challenges and frustrations you face.
Support with cognitive difficulties
– Your Live-in Carer can help if are suffering cognitive problems caused by an Acquired Brain Injury. They will help you manage your emotions, remember things such as appointments, and birthdays. You may also have trouble communicating and getting stuck on words. Your Live-in Carer can help you speak to your family, friends & professionals when you need assistance. They are also there to help understand and process important information, for example instructions from your doctor.
Finding the Perfect Carer for someone who has an Acquired Brain Injury
At Access Care we pride ourselves on being a Live-in care recruitment agency who really care. We want to make a great match of Carer for all our clients. We know how much our Live-in Carers and Support Workers support and enhance the quality of life of our clients. Furthermore, it’s a pleasure to help make that happen.
We have been introducing professionally trained Live-in Carers and Support Workers to care for Clients with Acquired Brain Injury at home for over 25 years. Many of our Carers and Support Workers have a wealth of experience.
We will listen to your wishes and needs. We will talk to you to get to know you so we can try to find you a Live-in Carer/Support Worker with common interests and beliefs. This is in addition to the necessary care qualifications, skills, and experience.
We look for Live-in Carers and Support Workers who ideally have advanced experience of caring for Clients with Acquired Brain Injury. They will have the necessary understanding and insight into the condition as well as the practical skills to support you. Our job is to present you with possible Live-in Carers to choose from. Your job is to choose one!
Acquired Brain Injury Resources you may find useful
Headway is the UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury by providing support and information services. This includes a helpline and information resources. They also have an emergency fund to assist people dealing with the financial implications immediately after sustaining a brain injury. Headway works to raise awareness of brain injury and the devastating effects it can have. They have local groups and branches across the UK www.headway.org.uk
The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) offer specialist assessment and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities resulting from brain injury. They have some excellent resources accessible on their website www.thedtgroup.org/brain-injury