Family and Carers

Living with someone with a brain injury can be difficult, especially if they are someone for whom you have loved and cared. Brain injury can change a person, so it seems as if you are living with a complete stranger; the way they think, the things they do, the way they are, can be so different to the person you remember, the one you loved.

Some of the other things that may cause problems might be:

• Unexpected crises
• Hidden disabilities, such as anger, frustration, fatigue, lack of concentration, impulsiveness or not considering other peoples' needs
• Not being aware of their disabilities
• Financial difficulties resulting from the injury
• Having to fight for compensation

Some of the most distressing changes in a person with brain injury can involve aggression, sudden changes in mood, self-centredness, impulsivity, sexual and social disinhibition, poor motivation and lack of empathy. These changes can be awkward and embarrassing, causing people to shy away from contact with the family when support is most needed, which in itself causes social isolation. Not surprisingly many families report high levels of distress and depression as they attempt to cope with their problems, often without help or advice. This only highlights the importance of obtaining essential support, which should be part of the rehabilitation and care of the family as a whole.

Families need respite from their caring duties and time out to do the things they enjoy, which is where Headway comes in.

Quite a good proportion of our clients attend our Brain Injury Outreach Units to provide their families with 'me-time'. It enables the family to do things they want or need to do, such as going to the hairdresser, shopping for clothes or going to the gym. They are then able to return to their caring duties refreshed.

Headway can also make a huge difference to the attitude, ability and confidence of their loved one, making them more cheerful and life much more bearable.

There may be financial problems due to the loss of a breadwinner or the need to give up a job in order to become a carer. Some family members may grieve at the loss of the person they once knew and find difficulty in adjusting to who that person now is and what they do.