For the main Headway UK website please click on the following link: Headway UK

The following Information Sheets have been developed by Headway UK:

About Brain Injury

• Basic brain information - Overview of the brain
• Carbon monoxide poisoning - an overview of the causes, effects and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, a common cause of hypoxic and anoxic brain injury
• Coma stimulation: suggested activities - an approach based on stimulating the unconscious person’s senses of hearing, touch, smell, taste and vision individually in order to help their recovery
• Coma and reduced awareness states - find out more about coma, persistent vegetative state and locked in syndrome
• Hypoxic and anoxic brain injury - an overview of the causes, effects and treatment of hypoxic and anoxic brain injury
• Management of acquired brain injury - a guide for GPs - download a guide to managing and supporting patients with an acquired brain injury
• Minor brain injury - a guide for GPs - download a guide to diagnosing, referring and managing patients with a acquired brain injury
• Minor head injury discharge advice - essential information for people who have attended hospital after a head injury

Caring for someone with a brain injury

• Caring 1 - The early stages after brain injury - the period immediately following your relative’s brain injury is a frightening and confusing time. The outcome can be very uncertain and it will probably be the first time you will have had any experience of brain injury.
• Caring 2 - Children's emotional reactions and how to help - The issues facing young children can be particularly challenging 
• Caring 3 - Leaving hospital - once your relative is medically stable and any physical injuries have been treated, they may be ready to be discharged from the hospital. 
• Caring 4 - Rehabilitation and continuing care - find out more about rehabilitation, residential and care at home options. 
• Caring 5 - Becoming a carer - when your relative comes home there may be many new challenges to face. 
• Caring 6 - Carer's assessment checklist - useful checklist to help you prepare for your carer's assessment. 
• Caring 7 - Relationships - brain injury can radically alter the dynamics of families and relationships. 
• Caring 8 - Caring for yourself - it is vital you look after yourself, maintaining your interests and social life, staying healthy and getting the support you need. 
• Caring 9 - Young carers - being a young carer can affect many areas of a young person’s life including school, college, work and university. 
• Caring - Useful organisations - some useful carer support organisations
• Caring - Further reading - a reading list to help you find out more

The Effects of Brain Injury

• Coping with memory problems after brain injury - practical strategies - Strategies to help you if you are living with memory problems
• Difficulties with decision making after brain injury - Practical tips and strategies to help people with brain injury deal with the problems of everyday life and cope with new situations
• Brain injury and epilepsy - an overview of Epilepsy after brain injury
• Coping with hemiplegia and hemiparesis - Information and practical tips for coping with paralysis or weakness of one side of the body following brain injury
• Dysphagia after brain injury - this factsheet explains what dysphagia is, how normal swallowing works, the signs and symptoms of dysphagia, diagnostic techniques, treatment options and some strategies to overcome the difficulties
• Executive dysfunction after brain injury - executive dysfunction is a term for the range of cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties which often occur after injury to the frontal lobes of the brain
• Hormonal imbalances after brain injury - damage to the hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland can lead to insufficient or increased release of one or more hormones
• Loss of taste and smell after brain injury - practical tips for coping with a loss of taste and smell after brain injury
• Managing anger - tips for brain injury survivors - practical tips for coping with anger after a brain injury
• Managing anger - tips for families, friends and carers - strategies for coping with anger after brain injury
• Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) - a question and answer guide to PTA, which occurs in many people after brain injury
• Prosopagnosia - face blindness after brain injury - read about this poorly understood and often overlooked effect of brain injury
• The effects of brain injury - a brief guide to some of the common effects

Employment & Education

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• Returning to work after brain injury - Our main returning to work factsheet guides you through the strategies
• Returning to work - help and support services - Find out about the services that can help you get back to work
• Returning to work - vocational rehabilitation providers
• Adaptations to the workplace - a guide for employers - Details some of the common adjustments an employer can make to help employees return to work
• Financial support when returning to work - There are a number of benefits and other forms of ongoing support or one-off payments you may be entitled to when returning to work
• Making a complaint about treatment at work after brain injury - Details the process and support services available if you are not happy with your treatment at work
• Self-employment after brain injury - Running your own business can be very demanding, especially after a brain injury. However, it can also be a hugely rewarding and empowering way of making a living.
• Voluntary work after brain injury - Voluntary work can be very rewarding and a lot of fun. Helping others and doing something productive is great for self-confidence and also can help get you back into a working routine.
• Returning to education after brain injury - Returning to education after brain injury can be a great way of acquiring the skills and qualifications necessary to return to employment
• The Equality Act 2010 - This factsheet provides an overview of the Equality Act 2010 (which replaces the Disability Discrimination Act 2005) and its relevance to people with a brain injury and their employers
• Returning to work and education - useful organisations
• Returning to work and education - further reading

Legal Issues

• A guide to personal injury trusts - This factsheet provides an overview of the rules relating to personal injury trusts in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• A guide to the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act - Find out more about the Act, including key principles, assessing capacity, how to act on someone's behalf and useful organisations
• A guide to the Mental Capacity Act - This factsheet provides a brief overview of how the MCA works

Practical Issues

• A guide to the Mental Capacity Act - This factsheet provides a brief overview of how the MCA works
• Completing the DLA claim form - A step-by-step guide to completing the Disability Living Allowance claim form
• Holidays and travel after brain injury - A guide to travelling after brain injury. Includes a list of travel insurance companies and holiday providers
• Making a complaint about health and social care services - Information to help you make a complaint in the UK and Channel Islands
• Self-directed support - Find out how you can direct your own support from Social Services
• The Work Capability Assessment and completing the ESA50 form - Provides help to people with a brain injury who are going through the assessment process for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

The challenges carers and families face in dealing with a relative with brain injury can seem overwhelming, but there is so much support out there if you know where to find it. We have listed below just a few of the potential sources of help you might be able to access, those who should at the very least know who else might be able to help you . But if there is any specialist help you require or if you are not able to get what you need then please contact us and we will do what we can to assist.

• Headway UK 24 hour Helpline 0808 800 2244

• Headway Somerset 01823 444829

• Headway booklets and leaflets and pages elsewhere on this website

• Carers Support Teams or through your local GP

• Signposts (will help find the support you need) 0800 317220

• Carers UK 0808 808 7777

• Somerset Direct 0845 3459133

• Carers Direct 0808 8020202

• Carefirst (Counselling Service) 0800 174319

• St. John Ambulance Somerset Carer Support 01823 345920