Main description:

Brain Injury not only affects its victim, but those around them. In many cases, relatives are often overlooked despite facing many obstacles accepting and adjusting to a new way of life. Family Experience of Brain Injury showcases a unique collaboration between relatives of brain injured individuals and professionals from the field of neurorehabilitation. Family members from all different viewpoints tell their story and how the brain injury of a loved one has affected them.

This book provides a space for those hidden and marginalised voices, the people who are in for the long haul, often dismissed by services and left to cope in isolation. By combining expert commentary with real life experiences, this book points towards sources of support, normalises the experience and provides a context for understanding the grief and losses of family members. Not only will the hard-earnt knowledge and wisdom evident in this book help educate health and social care staff, it highlights how love, commitment, hope and perseverance, against a seemingly unbearable grief, can remain.

It is essential reading for individuals and families touched by brain injury and will give multi-disciplinary professionals, such as medics, nurses, psychologists, therapists, social workers, rehabilitation practitioners and clinical supervisors, a greater understanding of their role in helping the affected family.

Contents:

Foreword

Dr Alyson Norman, psychologist and sister of a severely brain injured brother

Preface

Mark Holloway

Acknowledgments

Introduction
Jo Clark Wilson and Mark Holloway

Acquired Brain Injury and Families
Jackie Dean, Jo Clark Wilson and Mark Holloway

The Family and the Team
Dan talks to Dr Siobhan Palmer about his son Paul

Behaviour, Vulnerability and the Criminal Justice System
Jeanne describes the challenges faced by her son Adam's brain injury, Jackie Dean reflects upon this story

Grief without end
Laura's story of her husband John and the stroke that so affected their lives. Dr Giles Yeates reflects upon this story

Support of Siblings
Eliza and Grace, both sisters of severely brain injured people, tell their stories to Jo Clark Wilson

Children's Challenges
Alistair, Beatrix and their mother Christine describe the impact of their father/husband's brain injury and Deidre describes the events and outcome of the accident that killed her mother and severely brain injured father

The Impact of Acquired Brain Injury on the Family: Common Themes, Threads and Differences
Jo Clark Wilson and Mark Holloway

What may Help?
Jo Clark Wilson and Mark Holloway

In Conclusion

Jo Clark Wilson and Mark Holloway

References

Index