Analysis Situation Acquired Brain Injury - Case Study Example

Acquired Brain Injury Name Course Professor Institution: City and State Date Section A: case study Acquired Brain injury (Traumatic – 12 months post injury): I am an old man aged 37 years living in Emerald in Central Queensland. I live with my wife and two teenage sons. My house is high set with several steps, and inside has two levels with my bedroom on the upper level and bathroom on the same level. I have to oscillate from one end of the room to another in order to use all facilities, which has posed so many challenges to me. Especially when it comes to using the toilet and bathroom, I have to get out of the wheelchair and crawl. This is tiring and is forcing me to look for a house that does not have any levels or install an elevator to meet my needs. Section B: Disability Awareness In my state of condition, I face many challenges that have affected my family members most especially my children. I have not had time to spend playing with my children and attend social functions at their school because it means having them assist me in doing most of the things include driving, alighting from the car and at times, pushing me on the wheelchair. They do not mind, but I see it as a bother to them because I love, appreciate and care for them immensely. My wife has given me support and has encouraged me in doing things on my own to show me that I can be independent. I am also high tempered, which scares my children very much to the extent of them not coming near me for a day or two. Increased pressure is exerted on parents with disabilities by media reports and researchers when it comes to getting and keeping their children involved in both formal and informal activities in the community. My children have limited and face barriers accessing appropriate activities, support and services in the community. I depend on my wife for support in daily living routine that includes nurturing of children. My wife does not complain, but the dependency has strained my relationship with her (Holm et al. 2009, p.450). To my extended family, they have ignored inviting me to public social events taking place outside town because they do not want to have a burden over their shoulders of carrying me and helping me out in almost all activities. This is a major problem and has reduced communication between my extended family. For this reason, my disability is a major concern to me because it has negatively impacted on the relationship ties existing between my family and those from the extended unit of the family. Several organizations in the country have joined hands in helping those individuals who are disabled and examples include Brain Injury Australia (BIA), Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service (ABIOS) and Synapse among others. All these organizations reach out to disabled members of the society and help them in living comfortable lives in the society (Queensland Government 2011). They have been able to encourage disabled people and have changed many lives. Through their training programs and seminars, they have educated and enlightened ABI individuals. Through research and development, these social groups have conducted community oriented research and development activities aimed at evaluating modes of service delivery to ABI patients and later report to stakeholders; research has been a tool used in designing and co-coordinating into the community; and fostering development of responsive services of research. Other groups include church groups that have really added value to the lives of disabled members of the community. All these organizations have call centers where one can call and given assistance on problems raised. One can also visit their website and check out what they offer. If one is facing a problem, an individual can call and assisted by a doctor who is on call and directs them on how to handle the situation until medics arrive to take charge of the situation if need be. Central Queensland Rural Division of General Practice Assn Inc (CQRDGP) is a community service organization that serves Emerald and the surrounding areas. I go to this community based organization for my occupational therapy sessions, which has promoted my health and well being. The goal of this therapy is to enable me and other disabled people participate in everyday activities. Through this, the applications of modified environments give support to my state of condition. Services provided during therapy sessions include education and prescription of how to adapt and use equipments like wheelchairs and bath seats. Having been able to make changes in my house, they now fit my needs, due to the assistance accorded to me by the organization. They have enabled me have access to funding equipments and home modifications (eligibility application criteria) that have aided in improving my condition. The Umbrella Network is a support group that aims to enhance the theology of families supporting families by talking, sharing and offering suggestions to each other in Emerald. This support group has met my needs by just picking the call and talking, which is convenient and easy for me. The specially trained officers’ intake answer questions in a professional manner and carry out research with the aim of gathering information from the patient and solving problems. The Salvation Army is another social support group that has been helpful in meeting all my spiritual and psychological needs. This group has linked with other services like the Umbrella Network in enhancing capacity in helping those individuals in need. Section C: Daily living Time/Activity Ease of doing an activity or participating (0-4) 0= no difficulty 4= complete difficulty. Barriers or Facilitators you have encountered Your solution/s to overcome the barriers Approximate financial cost to you 7am: Getting out of bed 3 No railing to use Fitting railings would help   7.15am: Going to the toilet 4 Unable to stand Required personal assistance   7.30am Bathing 4 Unable to stand Install bath seats 8.00am Dressing 2 Dresses slowly and not neatly Needs guidance on how to dress neatly 8.30am Going down the staircase 4 Unable to walk down the staircase Requires to be carried down and be put on a wheel chair 8.45am Taking breakfast 1 Eats breakfast slowly Being patient 9.30am Brushing teeth 0 Able to brush teeth Needs no assistance 9.45am Getting into the Car 4 Unable to enter the car Needs to be carried into the car 9.50am Driving to the office 4 Unable to drive to the office Requires a driver to drive the car 10.20am Alighting from the car 4 Unable to alight from the car Requires to be assisted out of the car 10.30am Getting to the office 2 Wheels to the lift from the ramp. Needs a little guidance on the ramp 10.40am Working In the office 0 Able to work in the office Requires no personal assistance 11.30am Going for a meeting 1 Wheels around the office to the meeting room Requires assistance to carry documents/ folders/laptop 12.45pm Going for lunch in an hotel 2 Wheels around to the lift and ramp Requires a little assistance on the ramp 12.50pm Getting into the car 4 Unable to get into the car Requires assistance to get into the car and put the wheel chair in the boot 1.20pm Getting into the hotel 3 Unable to wheel through the staircase Requires to be wheeled to the hotel floor 1.30pm Taking Lunch 0 Able to take lunch Needs no help 4.30pm Going to the shopping mall 3 Unable to shop for items on the top shelves Requires assistance to pick the items 6.30pm Getting dinner ready 3 Unable to prepare food Requires assistance to prepare dinner 9.30pm Getting to bed 4 Unable to climb the staircase Needs assistance to get to bed and bathroom Inclusion of a lift would be better Section D: Challenges Disability is not inability, but maintaining family and friend relations in the community has posed to be a big problem to me. I have experienced major tantrums and have anger management issues that have made me engage in problems every now and then. I find it difficult maintaining relationships in the society with my anger problems because; I resent those without disability in the community. At one point, they have made me feel out of place when handling communal activities, which has led to discrimination among peers, friends and family members. Interpersonal interactions and relationships have been tampered with and have made family and friends disagree and quarrel all the time due to the financial constraints encountered. Mobility levels have decreased and thus, contributing to lower performance levels and not participating in social campaigns and awareness programmes that promote research and development of disabled individuals. Using a wheelchair slows me down because it is manual and I get tired forcing individuals in the community to help in pushing me (Laidmae et al. 2009, p.96). This poses to be a problem especially when it comes to climbing the mountain, using the staircase and even running in a race. I like engaging in community activities and games fostering unity and cooperation, but it is difficult to do so at times. Self care is also another social restriction that has limited me from going to seminars as it will mean being accompanied by an assistant. This is limiting and costly because I will be paying for both our expenses and catering to all the needs of the assistant. At times, the assistant wants to interact with other people in the community and enjoy the facilities in the environment. However, he cannot go because I am his number one priority. This becomes a challenge because it can lead to a conflict between me and the assistant and having a poor relation even in the future. Self care should be given at all times and stages, and since we are human beings, one gets tired and bored of repeating the same routine every now and then. General task performance and demands, domestic life and major life areas pose as social restrictions that have disrupted my well-being in the society. Being dependent is not a good thing because it restricts you from making decisions. Task performance will need me to have an assistant, and thus, I need to be attended to and share my schedule with the assistant who will refute and approve allocated times. This is because they also have a life to live and need time to spend with their loved ones and attend to their projects, businesses and friends. All these social restrictions have influenced my physical, emotional and social life in the community. It is important for disabled people to look beyond these restrictions and live a healthy life free from any stress. Products and technology, attitudes, support and relationships, service systems and policies, natural surroundings and man-made modification to the environment are some of the environmental factors challenging disabled people in the community (Konstanjsek 2010, p.2). Technological developments and emerging products in the community have posed as a problem when it comes to using public utilities. For example, use of public toilets has been a problem because they do not have provisions for persons with disabilities to use them. Also, accessing Bank ATM for a person using a wheel chair is a challenge due to the positioning of the machine. The negative attitudes people have on disabled people in the community have increased stress levels and thus, have led to one being depressed and oppressed. Relationships and support from friends in the community are minimal bearing in mind the time consuming ((Konstanjsek 2010, p.3) concept of caring and listening to a disabled person. I am bound to be on a wheel-chair and with this notion in mind, most of my friends have avoided having any contact with me, and the few who do, are compelled by their past mistakes. In respect to the natural environment and human changes made, it becomes difficult for me to engage in social activities and events in the society ((Konstanjsek 2010, p.4). This poses as a major problem to me because I know that I have a passion for helping the less privileged members of the society, and with reduced energy; I find it difficult to help them. I also like associating with young adults in the society. However, nowadays, I find it difficult communicating with them because of the negative attitude instilled in them by adults. Major changes need to be put into consideration by community elders and leaders in order to foster co-operation and unity by both disabled and able individuals. People should accept and appreciate that people with a disability are also human beings capable (Biansw 2011) of performing any other task given to them like any other person without the disability. It is well known that disability is not inability, thus, we should be accepted and given the same kind of treatment like any other person without making us feel incapacitated and not capable of doing anything by ourselves. We should be allowed to participate in sporting activities like any other person to show our abilities. Introduction of wheelchair ramps (World health organization 2010) has helped me when it comes to movement. Elevators and lifts have been modernized to fit the needs and demands of disabled members of the community, and thus, professional assistance has been reduced. Several banks have started to design and install ATM, which are accessible by people with disabilities especially the ones using wheel chairs. Public toilets and other public utilities need to be user friendly disabled people so they can be able to use them without requiring any assistance from other people. Acquired Brain Injury poses negative impacts on self concept, but has not changed over time. As an individual, this disability has reduced my intelligibility levels and thus, affecting successful communication patterns with relatives, friends and peers in the community. As a result, I have faced many prejudices from listeners who see my problem solving techniques, planning and organizing as poor. This has been difficult and has posed challenges in my workplace to the point of not being assigned projects that need approvals. I have experienced problems when it comes to formulating ideas and thus, have had fixed thinking patterns. However, I have found solutions on how to react to my disability in public, which has enabled me, have a positive attitude towards my physical state. This has boosted my thinking and problem solving strategies in a direction that has prompted me to instill in others a virtue of respect and belonging. Brain injury affects a person’s self-worthy assessment (self-esteem) and may be more significant when he/she has had severe or mild injury in relation to good self-awareness. From this perspective, I would focus my thoughts on the positives and allow myself to express my feelings often. Knowledge is a powerful tool used in such situations. By learning about the disability, I am in a position, to exercise compassion and patience, which will enable me to better understand and nurture my self-esteem as a patient experiencing Acquired Brain Injury. Body image in this perspective relates to how my physical statue has been affected by the disability. Having to operate on a wheelchair is a problem and attracts much attention from members of the public who stare and talk about me once I go out. This has forced me to avoid having contact with my friends and relatives and even community members. I have even seized attending public functions held in my community, but this is not a sound decision. I should be proud and thankful that am alive and able to carry myself from one point to another. However, it is difficult to assume, but I should look for ways of educating people about my injury. In a way, it gives community members a chance to teach their children, peers and friends on the dangers of abusing alcoholic substances. This will encourage them and build a relationship that is consistent and imposes in them a feeling that is positive of individuals like me in the society. Having a negative attitude towards my body image is not a good thing, but I should work around it and accommodate it into my life. In spite of theoretical orientations, competent health care professionals working with clients, of Acquired Brain Injury, concentrate on their strengths and assets. Individuals with Acquired Brain Injury learn to refuse societal attempts that handicap them through discriminations, limitations and restrictions. In order to actualize adjustment and patient growth, positive psychological approaches and wellness models need to be put in place. This is aimed at promoting competency levels, potential and enhancement of life quality. In other words, these patients want to be independent in the future and handle their problems in society later on in the future. This has been achieved through the use if compensatory strategies and specialized equipment that enhance independence by strengthening the person. Rehabilitation centers treating disable people use the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in breaking down negative schemas about themselves. Patients do not require any pity from the community and most of all, from health care professionals because it depresses them. A state of depression is an ailment that is discouraged among disable patients since it leads them to a state of terminal mental illness (Shakespeare, Lezzoni & Groce 2009, p.1815). Pity is a vice not encouraged in a health care centers and thus, patients are encouraged and motivated on improvements achieved. Pity is one thing that is not encouraged when training health care professionals. Paternalism in relation to treatment of disable patients by health care providers and rehabilitation centers is considered to be the most effective tool in enabling clients to recover quickly. In the recovery process, this is an essential part that motivates patients in getting them to work on improving their health condition. This, as an important part of the recovery stage, entails including family members in the therapy sessions (Shakespeare, Lezzoni & Groce 2009, p.1816). Self efficacy is also incorporated in their rehabilitation programme that gives them the chance to think independently and act on their own free will. This gives them a chance to make decisions that impact their lives and thus, ensures that they work and make a living for themselves. I have been given the chance by care providers to think and act on my way forward when faced with challenging times in my workplace and community. List of References ARBIAS 2011, Information: Resources, viewed on 26th of April, 2011, retrieved from BIANSW 2011, about brain injury; fact sheets, viewed on 22th of April, 2011, retrieved from Brain injury Australia 2011, About Brain injury, viewed on 24th of April, 2011, retrieved from < http://www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au/> Holm et al 2009, ‘Patients’ and relatives experience of difficulties following severe traumatic brain injury: The sub-acute stage’, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 3, pp.444-460. Konstanjsek, N 2010, ‘Use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a conceptual framework and common language for disability statistics and health information systems’, BMC Public Health 2011, vol. 11 (Supple 4), no. 53, p.1-7 Laidmae et al 2009, ‘Disease-related social and family life: people coping with rheumatoid arthritis in Estonia’, Critical Public Health, vol. 19, no. 1, pp.87-105. Queensland Government 2011, The Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service (ABIOS), viewed on 27th April, 2011, retrieved from Shakespeare, T, Lezzoni, LI, & Groce, NE 2009, ‘Disability and the training of health Professionals’, The Lancet, vol. 374, Issue 9704, pp. 1815-1816. SYNAPSE, 2011, Services, viewed on 23th of April, 2011, retrieved from World health organization 2010, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)’retrieved from Read More