1) What is ABI and what causes it?
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is caused by the shearing of brain nerve fibers due to trauma or by cell death related to swelling, bleeding, disease or loss of oxygen to the brain (anoxia). Whether mild, moderate or severe, ABI can cause physical, cognitive, speech/language and behavioral dysfunction.
Acquired brain injury results from specific events involving trauma to the brain, such as:
2) What is the difference between Acquired Brain Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a subset of the larger group, Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Acquired Brain Injuries include all traumatic brain injuries, in addition to non-traumatic brain injuries, such as strokes and meningitis.
3) What makes Learning Services so special? For over twenty-five years, Learning Services has helped define those services most important and effective in treating adults with ABI or traumatic injury. Our current programs are built upon years of partnership with our residents, families, payers, and countless individuals who have contributed to our work. We offer a personalized approach to helping people once again participate in meaningful life roles in the community while minimizing the impact of potential complications which might curtail or complicate these efforts. To this end, we offer an array of services and residential environments, as opposed to providing a “one size fits all” approach. Our residents’ programs are managed by experienced and well-trained Case Managers who understand brain injury and the rehabilitative progression of these disabilities. We also offer Day Treatment programs at many of our programs, which are designed to meet the unique needs of our residents with multiple opportunities to access their local communities. 4) What types of living arrangements are available at Learning Services? Learning Services offers a variety of residential settings tailored to each participant. Campus-based congregate-living settings, community-based residences, and apartments are available to meet the specific needs of individual residents. The programs provide a balance between privacy and safety, as each resident is motivated to increase his or her self-reliance and participation in the community. 5) How does Learning Services involve family and friends? Can I visit the program whenever I want, or are there visiting hours? Family members are encouraged to be as involved as they wish and to visit frequently; visitors are always welcome to our programs. Family members are encouraged to develop a relationship with the staff. Our Case Managers help make arrangements for meetings with pertinent staff as needed, as well as offering suggestions for travel and accommodations. Since many family members reside some distance from our programs, and the needs of our families and residents vary, we support visits on an individualized case-by-case basis rather than through standard “visiting hours.” Home visits are also a part of a resident’s program and are tailored to fit individual circumstances. 6) How often does Learning Services’ staff communicate with the family and sponsor? Will I get written reports? Upon admission, Learning Services’ Case Managers work to understand the expectations of family and sponsors, and then coordinate communications that work for all concerned. The frequency of the reports, their distribution, content, and consent to share are all established immediately following admission, so everyone involved is clear on what details are shared, and how often. 7) What areas of the Continuum of Care does Learning Services not provide? Acute care: Acute medical treatment directed towards maintenance of life functions and stabilizing life-threatening disruption of body functions after ABI or traumatic injury is provided in highly structured and medically supervised settings. Hospital-level care offers intensive nursing management and intervention as well as round-the-clock medical supervision of symptoms until an individual is stable and ready for rehabilitation. Sub-acute care is the term commonly applied to a setting offering a less intensive focus on therapy while providing more involved medical and nursing care. These programs are sometimes offered to individuals who may not yet be ready for a more rigorous program of therapy and who may have the need for nursing care to support management of and recovery from more serious health related concerns. Acute rehabilitation generally occurs in a highly structured medical environment. Typically these services are offered to someone who is recently injured or experiences a change in condition that warrants intensive therapy, medical and nursing care. 8) How does Learning Services measure and improve on the overall quality of their programs?
For more information on the services offered at any of our nationwide facilities, call Learning Services at 1.888.419.9955.
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