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BIHI - Hawaii

Support

Get informed on the Brain Injury Association Hawaii Support efforts

SUPPORT GROUPS

Adventist Health Castle Caregivers 
Honolulu, Hawaii
https://www.adventisthealth.org/home-care-services/locations/castle/

BIHI Support Group
Honolulu, Hawaii 
http://braininjuryofhawaii@gmail.com

Caregiver Connect: Queens Medical Center 
Honolulu, Hawaii 
http://danjones@queens.org

The Caregivers Foundation 
http://thecaregiverfoundation.org/csg

Kailua-Kona Brain Injury Support Group
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 
kklemme@hawaii.rr.com

Virtual Support Groups 
National 
https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/media/virtual-support-groups

RESOURCES

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

AARP Caregivers Assistance
https://act.aarp.org/iheartcaregivers

Aloha Independent Living Hawaii
https://alohailhawaii.org/

Goodwill Industries
https://www.goodwillhawaii.org/

Hawaii Aging & Disability Resource Center
http://www.hawaiiadrc.org

Hawaii Disability Resources & Advocacy Organizations
https://www.olmsteadrights.org/

Hawaii State Department of Health
https://health.hawaii.gov/

Hawaii Concussion Awareness Management Program
https://hawaiiconcussion.com/

Hilo Medical Center
Hilo, Hawaii
https://www.hilomedicalcenter.org/

Institute of Human Services
Honolulu, Hawaii
https://ihshawaii.org/

Neuro Restorative
https://www.neurorestorative.com/

Rehabilitation Center of the Pacific
https://www.rehabhospital.org/

Malama Mana’o Brain Wellness Center at Manakai O Malama

https://malamamanaobrainwellness.com

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Catholic Charities Assistance Programs
Honolulu, Hawaii
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/hawaii_catholic_charities_assi.html

Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program
https://www.shiphelp.org

Medicaid
https://medquest.hawaii.gov/

Social Security Benefits
Danielle Beaver, Attorney
https://www.hawaiisocialsecurity.com/

Social Security Administration
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/

HOUSING RESOURCES

Housing Resources at Caring.com
https://www.caring.com/senior-care/hawaii/honolulu

RESEARCH & GENERAL RESOURCES

Hawaii ADRC – Aging & Disability Resource Center
https://www.hawaiiadrc.org/

Hawaii Neuro-Trauma Registry
https://health.hawaii.gov/nt/hawaii-neurotrauma-registry-project/

Hawaii Neuroscience
https://hawaiineuroscience.com/

“Scholarly Articles for Hawaii Traumatic Brain Injury”
Google Search

MEMORY CARE

Memory care in Hawaii

What is a memory care facility?

When to consider memory care

What to expect in memory care

RESOURCES FOR VETERANS

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
https://www.washington.edu/doit/defense-and-veterans-brain-injury-center-dvbic

Military One Source
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/

National Center for PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/

National Defense Centers of Excellence
https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence

State of Hawaii Office of Veteran’s Services
https://dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/

US Department of Veteran’s Affairs
https://www.va.gov/

ABOUT BRAIN INJURY

Every brain is different, and thus every brain injury is unique. No two experiences of brain injury will be identical. Brain injury can affect every aspect of an individual’s life: physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral. There are some commonly seen consequences of brain injury.

A person who has sustained a brain injury may experience some of the following:

  • Physical Changes
  • Loss of use of one or both arms or legs
  • Balance problems
  • Dizziness
  • Changes in vision
  • Changes in the sense of smell or taste
  • Fatigue
  • sleep disorders
  • Decreased coordination
  • Changes in sex drive
  • Changes in bowel and/or bladder control
  • Speech difficulties
  • Swallowing difficulties
  • Seizures
  • Cognitive Changes

Attention and/or concentration difficulties:

  • Short term memory problems
  • Difficulty initiating tasks
  • Difficulty following through with tasks
  • Difficulty with organization
  • Problem solving difficulties
  • Reasoning problems
  • Slowed thought processes
  • Lack of insight or perception
  • Inability to follow directions
  • Difficulty doing more then one task at a time
  • Difficulty in understanding written and/or verbal communication
  • Difficulty expressing thoughts appropriately
  • Sensitivity to over-stimulation, difficulty filtering out external stimuli

Emotional and Behavioral Changes:

  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Withdrawal
  • Depression
  • Aggression
  • Inability to control emotions
  • Verbal outbursts
  • Impulsiveness
  • Fear
  • Difficulty interacting in social situations

Please be aware that this is a partial list of possible consequences of brain injury. This list should not be construed as a diagnostic tool. If you suspect that you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury, you need to seek appropriate medical attention.

Tips for Family and Friends

Here are some practical tips that others have found helpful. Provide “cues” to aid the survivor’s orientation. The survivor may need help maintaining his orientation to time, place or people. Some survivors may have post-traumatic amnesia. It is common for the survivor to interact with friends, family and health care providers and have no recollection of the interaction. Be patient. Provide a calendar and clock (preferable without a second hand) to help orient to time. Provide photographs of family, friends, pets and familiar places. These will help to orient the survivor to people and place. Smaller groups of visitors will usually be easier for the survivor to handle. This reduces the possibility of too much stimulation.

Too much stimulation can be very frustrating for the survivor. Recognize that stimulation is needed in moderate doses. Please remember that the survivor may be thinking at a much slower speed and may require more attention and concentration to do the task at hand. Also the survivor may have to think about things that they could do automatically prior to the accident. Allow them enough time to work through their thoughts and actions. If a survivor experiences too much stimulation, he may “shut down”. Other reactions that can be exhibited by the survivor are crying or becoming combative. If this happens, a quiet environment and rest may be helpful. Try to remain calm and be matter-of-fact and non- judgmental toward the survivor.

Keep conversations simple. Simple means uncomplicated, not simple-minded. Please do not be condescending. Speak to the survivor in an age-appropriate manner and about topics that promote normal interest. Conversation is important to the survivor. Even if he is unable to speak, try to keep the social environment as normal as possible. Speak clearly, use a normal tone and volume. Use short, simple sentences. Ask one question at a time. Allow the survivor more time than usual to process what you have said and to respond. Remember to look at the survivor when speaking to him. Don’t talk about him as if he was not in the room. Even if they aren’t able to respond verbally to you, they may be listening and understanding what you are saying. The survivor is entitled to every spoken and unspoken sign of respect. Questions with a “yes” or “no” answer may be easier for the survivor to process. For example “Are you tired?” rather then “Would you like a nap or to watch T.V.?” Speaking may be difficult for the survivor. Give the survivor time to search for the word that he wants to say. Supply the word if frustration is apparent. Support and encourage the survivor’s communication efforts. If the survivor loses his place in the conversation, gently give him clues about the topic. Please remember that difficulty in finding a word does not mean that the survivor has lost intelligence.

Tips and Strategies for the Survivor

The list below is intended to give survivors and family members a sampling of compensatory strategies that are available to assist persons who have sustained a brain injury. A therapist or physician is the best source for strategies that are appropriate for each survivor and their personal life activities.

  • Write appointments in a daily planner.
  • Keep a pad and pencil near the bed.
  • Use checklists, timers and alarms.
  • Use a phone log to track calls and conversations.
  • Have a consistent routine.
  • Double-check work that has been completed.
  • Allow for additional time to accomplish tasks, don’t over schedule.
  • Pace yourself.
  • Keep clutter to a minimum, it will slow you down and make it difficult to find things.
  • Minimize distractions.
  • Ask for repetition of directions and repeat them aloud or write them down.

Home and Safety Tips

  • Prior to returning home from the hospital after sustaining a brain injury, it is best to have a trained professional, such as an occupational therapist, evaluate the home environment for safety. The following suggestions may seem to be common sense but they are critical in the home of an individual whom has recently sustained a brain injury. The survivor may be experiencing problems with perception, balance, awareness, any of his senses, as well as judgment and reasoning. The survivor may not realize how much he has changed.
  • The purpose of this information is to prevent unnecessary secondary injuries. An individual who has sustained a brain injury is at a greater risk for further injury. Therefore, a partial list of suggestions is provided, but should not replace a through evaluation of the home environment.
  • Electric cords should run along the baseboards or behind furniture. Extension cords should not be used unless absolutely necessary and should be out of the way to prevent tripping over them.
  • Emergency phone numbers should be posted on or near the phone; they should be large enough and bright enough for the survivor to see. Phones should be in easy reach of the survivor.
  • Smoke alarms are needed throughout the house, doubly so if the survivor is a smoker. Short- term memory impairment is one of the most common consequences of brain injury. The survivor may not remember that he has lit a cigarette and just walk away from it.
  • Kitchen activities may require close supervision to avoid the possibility of unintentional fires on the stove or in the oven.
  • Stepping stools should be removed from the kitchen. The survivor may have balance and/or coordination problems that make it unsafe to be climbing onto a stool.
  • Rugs that are not securely anchored or do not have non-skid backing should be removed to limit potential falls.
  • Stairs and other high traffic areas should be free of clutter. Remove unnecessary or unsteady furniture and other items that may be obstacles for the survivor who is experiencing balance, gait or walking difficulties.
  • Secure handrails are needed on stairs.
  • Tubs and showers should have a non-skid surface.
  • Grab-bars in showers, tubs or beside toilets may be needed.
  • A portable tub or shower chair provides a stable, safe platform for bathing. These can be easily removed when other members of the family wish to use the bath.
  • Hot water temperatures can be problematic. Adjust the temperature setting on the hot water heater to “low” or 120 degrees to prevent scalding.
  • Provide adequate lighting in halls, stairs and where one works or reads.
  • Lock up all tools that are not used safely. Lawn mowers, trimmers and BBQs require careful supervision and should not be used until a competent individual assesses the safety capabilities of both the tool and the user. An occupational therapist may be able to help you with this task.

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