Function Pathway for people with ABI and or SCI with serious injury

It is useful to consider acquired brain injury within the context of a healthy person's abilities and life span.

A health person's abilities include: understanding and communication, mobility, self-care, interacting with other people, being able to participate in life activities such as leisure, work and school, joining and participating in community activities.

A person's life span typically moves through the stages of birth, pre school years, school years, young adult, middle age, retirement and old age.

An acquired brain injury impacts on a person's abilities at a point in their life span. The nature and extent of the impact and the services and rehabilitation process that will be needed are related to the nature of the injury to the brain and the point in their life span when it occurs.

The chart above provides a functional view of the areas to be addressed in rehabilitation

A. EQUIPMENT

What equipment is needed and how can it be put in place?

B. HOUSING AND HOME MODIFICATIONS

What is required for the person to have suitable housing. An existing home? With modifications?
New accommodation with support?

C. HYGEINE AND SELF-CARE

What is required for the person to manage their own hygiene and self-care? Skills? Support?

D. ONGOING SKILL DEVELIPOMENT - THERAPY

What therapy is required to achieve the skills required - physiotherapy, speech therapy, etc.

E. SUPPORT FOR LIVING / CARE

What support/care is required for this person to live in the housing that has been identified?

F. MEDICALLY SATBLE

What is required to ensure the person is medically stable?

G. ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS/SELF MANAGE

How competent is the person for making decisions/self-managing? What can build that competence?
If there is not sufficient competence what are the alternatives? E.g. Guardianship?

H. PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING

What is required to ensure psychological wellbeing/necessary supports?

I. CARERS SUSTAINABILITY

Who will be caring for this person? E.g. Family members?
What is required to ensure the sustainability of their role.

J. OTHER

What else needs work?