If your loved one has sustained a brain injury from a blow to the head, they should receive acute rehabilitation as soon as possible. Offered at hospitals, this type of program helps patients recover basic abilities and lays the groundwork for other therapy programs that improve quality of life. Here’s what you need to know about this type of treatment to understand how it’s essential.

What Are the Potential Effects of Brain Injuries?

The brain is central to every activity in our lives, including everything from thoughts and memory to communication and movement.

Your loved one may have a wide variety of symptoms in almost any combination. These may include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, loss of speech, difficulty breathing or swallowing, seizures, mobility issues, and vision problems.

The severity of these effects often depends on the type of injury. Your loved one may be able to recover some of these abilities or learn ways to work around them, while some changes may be permanent.

How Does Acute Rehabilitation Help?

Acute rehabilitation aims to restore a patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living, such as communication, walking, basic personal hygiene, and eating and swallowing. For example, health care providers may work to maximize their responsiveness to stimuli and help them develop ways to compensate for vision, hearing, or speech difficulties.

Helping a patient with a brain injury recover these abilities makes them safer and more independent. It’s a necessary step in preparing for other types of rehabilitation that focus on improving quality of life and broadening your loved one’s range of abilities. 

Acute rehabilitation generally takes place in an inpatient facility, while later stages of treatment might be performed in an outpatient setting or by a home aide.

If you have a loved one who experienced a traumatic brain injury, turn to Lifetime Care for acute rehabilitation. With locations in Newark, Auburn, Dundee, Lakeville, and Rochester, NY, they’ve served the Finger Lakes region for over 60 years. They are a recognized charitable organization and offer both in-home and inpatient care. Call (585) 214-1000 to find resources for your loved one, or visit their website to learn more about their home health services.