Brain injury can impact your entire family, including spouses, parents, children, aunts, and uncles. Each family member may react to the injury differently.
The Brain Injury Association of America offers the following guide for families and caregivers. It's a good place to start as you're trying to anticipate the impact of your loved one's brain injury. It offers information to help with coping and adjustment to brain injury, including tips and advice on caring for yourself. It covers each stage of recovery, starting with the early hours and days after brain injury all the way through rehabilitation and return to the community.
Challenges, Changes, and Choices: A Brain Injury Guide for Families and Caregivers (PDF)
From the Brain Injury Association of America
How will I adjust and cope with this severe brain injury?
Recovery from a severe brain injury takes a long time. Family adjustment to brain injury is a process that also takes time. Feelings of fear, grief, and loss are normal. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially in the first days and weeks after the injury. Try to take things one day at a time. You can feel more prepared for what lies ahead by learning more about what to expect for your loved one’s recovery.
How Families and Caregivers Can Cope After Brain Injury
From Craig Hospital
Advice for families on coping and adjustment, including ideas for how you can take care of yourself during this difficult time
"Becoming a Family Caregiver" - Module 3 of the DVBIC Family Caregiver Curriculum (PDF pages 209-322)
From Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence
Formerly Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC)
Information on caring for a loved one after a brain injury. Topics include advocacy, caring for yourself, coping, and adjustment.
8 Essential Caregiver Coping Strategies
From BrainLine
Helpful tips to take care of yourself as a caregiver
Grief and Loss
From Family Caregiver Alliance
Information on the grieving process
When Caregiving Ends
From Family Caregiver Alliance
How to adjust to life when you are no longer a caregiver for your loved one
Religious/Spiritual Support
Many people have religious or spiritual beliefs and practices that contribute to health and quality of life. As you cope with your loved one’s injury, receiving support from a local faith or spiritual group can help you get through difficult challenges and offer an outlet for self-care. Many hospitals and facilities have spiritual support through chaplains who minister to people of all faiths and those with no religious affiliation and may be an important part of recovery. Reaching out to your own spiritual support sustem may be important as you manage during this time.
From Bereavement to Belonging – Nurturing Spirituality After Brain Injury
From Craig Hospital
A brief overview of how sprituality can help during recovery from brain injury
Spirituality & Practice: Resources for Spiritual Journeys
From Spirituality & Practice
An introduction to different religions and spiritual practices
Prayers and Mantras from Different Faiths
From Spirituality & Practice
Sample prayers and mantras in different spiritual practices
How do I manage the stress I feel?
Brain injury can cause significant stress for families and caregivers. The following resources provide information on managing stress after brain injury.
"Taking Care of Yourself" - Module 3, Chapter 4 of the DVBIC Family Caregiver Curriculum (PDF pages 231-244)
From Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence
Formerly Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC)
Stress Management Following Brain Injury: Strategies for Families and Caregivers
From BrainLine
How do I help my children understand severe brain injury?
Brain injury is difficult and confusing for children. The following resource focuses on how to talk about brain injury with children.
"Helping Your Children Cope with TBI" - Module 3, Chapter 5 of the DVBIC Family Caregiver Curriculum (PDF pages 245-253)
From Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence
Formerly Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC)
How do I support our marriage after a brain injury?
Brain Injury can alter the relationship between spouses and change the dynamics of your marriage. Here are two resources that may help.
"How Can I Preserve My Marriage or Relationship?" - Module 3, Chapter 6 of the DVBIC Family Caregiver Curriculum (PDF pages 257-258)
From Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence
Formerly Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC)
Relationships After Traumatic Brain Injury
From Model Systems Knowledge Translation Systems (MSKTC)
Includes short factsheets as well as videos describing relationship changes from spouses of survivors