Brain Injury Lawyers

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Role of the Caregiver in Traumatic Brain Injury

 

When a traumatic brain injury occurs, the burden of caring for the victim often falls on the victim's parents, spouse, or children. Taking on the caregiver's role can be an overwhelming responsibility. Even with a relatively mild traumatic brain injury, any number of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities may result that can require constant supervision or extensive, ongoing medical care. The fact of the matter is that caring for a traumatic brain injury patient often leads to negative social, economic, and psychological changes in the caregiver.

 

Traumatic brain injury can result in just about any physical, mental, and emotional disability imaginable. High-functioning traumatic brain injury patients may be able to care for themselves, but may have increased anger, or irritability issues that can have significant psychological and emotional impacts on the caregiver. More severe traumatic brain injury may require round-the-clock attention and extensive medical care.

 

The amount of responsibility that a caregiver has to take on will, of course, vary from case to case. However, taking on such a responsibility puts a caregiver at risk for any of the following:

 

• Negative social changes - The time and attention required for the care of a traumatic brain injury patient often causes some degree of withdrawal from previous social networks and social activities. The caregiver becomes at risk for becoming a shut-in.
• Physical exhaustion - traumatic brain injury patients often have erratic sleep patterns and have other demands which conflict with normal sleep patterns. It is not uncommon for caregivers to report a constant feeling of being physically and emotionally overwhelmed.
• Economic difficulty - If the traumatic brain injury patient used to be a primary breadwinner for the family, then the result of a traumatic brain injury can be especially devastating. Even if this was not the case, caring for a traumatic brain injury patient can be very costly.
• Depression and other psychological problems - Increased irritability, anger, and other negative emotional behaviors on the part of the traumatic brain injury patient can cause excessive psychological strain on the caregiver

 

Providing care for a traumatic brain injury patient is often a very difficult responsibility. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney right away. Please call or e-mail our brain injury lawyers today for a free consultation in the New York.

 

Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.
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