Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

What is Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)?

Acquired brain injury (ABI) can refer to any type of brain damage that occurs after birth. It includes damage caused by infection, disease, lack of oxygen, or head trauma. ABI can cause a variety of difficulties, ranging from physical to cognitive issues, speech and language to behavioral dysfunctions. Problems range from mild to severe, and every case presents its own challenges.

Our Approach to Care

At Learning Services, we understand that everyone with acquired brain injury (ABI) is different, and requires care unique to their particular injury and challenges. Learning Services believes in treating each resident on his or her own terms. Whether dealing with the physical, social, behavioral, or medical challenges of ABI, our experienced and caring team of professionals helps residents and their families move step-by-step on the journey to a better quality of life. Specializing in the the treatment of acquired brain injury, trained Direct Care staff work with our experienced Case Managers and Clinical Experts to assess progress and set realistic, attainable goals. Every step forward, no matter how small, makes an enormous difference in the lives of our residents and their families, and we celebrate these victories every day.

Applied Expertise

For more than twenty five years, Learning Services has been providing high-quality care and treatment to the acquired brain injury community. Our experience in providing functional based treatment for our residents with a wide range of ABI issues has led us to develop programs that give each person the best possible quality of life. Our model of care is built on the following key principles:

• Individualized treatment programs
• Functional Based Therapy
• Collaborative Case Management
• Community-Integrated Living
• Outcome-Oriented Care
  • 3 to one Staffing*
  • ABI Training for all staff members**

While each treatment and care element is important in itself, the combination is what creates the supportive and constructive environments, enabling our residents to live productive and satisfying lives.

 * Staffing Ratios 

• At LSNI, our Neurobehavioral Institute, the special behavioral needs of our residents calls for an increase in our staffing ratio to 2:1 or two residents per one Direct Care staff member. 
   
• Only Direct Care Staff are included in our staffing ratio calculation. All management, clinical, medical, case management, facility and specialty day activity staff are excluded from the staffing ratio calculation. That said, many of these program-based individuals spend a good portion of their day interacting directly with our ABI residents. Although participation by non-Direct Care Staff serves to increase the staffing coverage, it is not part of our targeted staffing calculation.
   
• When the number of residents in one of our programs is not divisible by three, by definition, staffing ratios will be slightly over or under our targeted 3:1 ratio.
   
• When a staff member is unexpectedly absent or calls in sick on short notice, pending the specific needs of that shift, alternate staffing may or may not be called-in to cover.
   
• Overnight shifts are usually not staffed at our standard or quoted staffing ratios.