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Treating and Collaborating With Family Caregivers in the Rehabilitation of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury

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Handbook on the Neuropsychology of Traumatic Brain Injury

Part of the book series: Clinical Handbooks in Neuropsychology ((CHNEURO))

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Abstract

Family members are an important source of support for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the recovery process and are potential partners in the rehabilitation process. Unfortunately, family members often experience substantial emotional distress and disruption of family functioning. These difficulties can impact the rehabilitation process and the recovery of the person with injury. Understanding the problems faced by family members and potential ways to assist them in helping the person with injury to achieve maximum functioning is important for neuropsychologists working in the area of TBI. The current chapter begins with an overview of the types of difficulties faced by family members in the acute and chronic phases of TBI. Next, an overview will be provided of the ways in which neuropsychologists can work with family members in different treatment settings including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, post-acute rehabilitation, and private practice. For each setting, case examples are provided to describe the role of the family in treatment and how the neuropsychologist can meet family members’ needs and involve them as partners in the rehabilitation process. The chapter ends with additional tips for working with family caregivers after TBI, along with a sample of educational resources that can be distributed to family members.

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Acknowledgement

Preparation of this chapter was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) grants H133A070043, H133B090023, and H133A120020.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine and Harris Health System, Houston, TX, USA

    Angelle M. Sander Ph.D.

  2. Brain Injury Research Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, TX, USA

    Angelle M. Sander Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Angelle M. Sander Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Angelle M. Sander Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. TIRR Memorial Hermann, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

    Mark Sherer

  2. Baylor College of Medicine/Harris Health System, Brain Injury Research Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, Texas, USA

    Angelle M. Sander

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Sander, A.M. (2014). Treating and Collaborating With Family Caregivers in the Rehabilitation of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury. In: Sherer, M., Sander, A. (eds) Handbook on the Neuropsychology of Traumatic Brain Injury. Clinical Handbooks in Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0784-7_14

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