Shandell B. from Lakewood asks:
“My son was in a motorcycle accident in 2014. He sustained a traumatic brain injury, a broken clavicle, several broken ribs, a broken arm and a collapsed lung. We didn’t know if he would survive for months, but he eventually woke up from his coma. He wasn’t able to care for himself and needed rehab. He was admitted into Allaire’s Horizons program in 2016. His recovery was slow but steady, and we were astounded by the progress he made. He even got to a point where he worked with your team and got discharged back home. He does have an aid that comes in and helps him, but he is doing amazing.
“I wanted to thank you and your team for everything you did for my boy! I also wanted to ask you if you knew of any resources that he can get to help him “re-learn” basic skills like paying bills, making lists, organizing mail, etc? I know it sounds trivial but, he has come so far and, if possible, I would love to be able to get him back to being independent. Do you know of any resources like this?”
Hi Shandell! First off, I want to thank you so much for this amazing testimony! It is stories like this that make everything worth it. I remember your son well and it brings me to tears to hear how wonderfully he is doing! I can still see him lying in bed the first time I met him, very depressed, defeated, not to mention very weak. I can also still close my eyes and see him leaving our facility to go home, happy, excited and looking forward to the next chapter. You have made my day by sending this to me!
Now onto your question… there are absolutely resources available to your son as well as all of you to help transition him back into the community and to help alleviate some of the burden that caregivers can feel. I would encourage you to reach out to the NJ Division of Disability Services. This division has a massive amount of resources available to your son as well as support for the rest of your family! It even has a traumatic brain injury fund that your son can apply to receive because of his traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosis. This fund helps people with a TBI with various assistance to help them stay in the community.
I know this fund has been known to help pay for home modifications to make things more handicap accessible, holistic treatments that are not necessarily covered under insurance benefits, and (this one’s for you) life skills training… these are the basic skills you are asking about. You can reach the NJ Division of Disability Services at 888-285-3036.
Shandell, I can’t thank you enough for sending me this update on your son (and for your question as well). Please feel free to reach out to me any time if you have any other questions and please keep me updated on your son as well! Take care Shandell.
Brie Gallo is the Director of Case Management and Physician Relations for Allaire Rehab and nursing center. Please submit all questions to bgallo@allairehc.com
