The Community Skills Program® Newsletter BrainWaves Volume 30 Issue 3 Fall 2014 The Importance of Information For and From Consumers Consumer choice is a stated principle in many rehabilitation At the conference programs and is also a standard New Roads, New identified by organizations with Directions: Finding the responsibility for certifying Your Way after Brain Injury, Howard and/or accrediting facilities and Blumberg and Carol programs that deliver services. Bardsley, along with But the principle of consumer another individual with a brain injury choice becomes difficult to up- and another therapist, hold if the choice is not informed spoke on “Returning choice. It is essential that suffi- to Work with Job cient, timely information be pro- Coaching.” vided to individuals throughout the rehabilitation process, so that substance abuse concerns, poten- one thing any person knows their choices are based on current tially beneficial medications, better than anyone else, and that knowledge and best practices in social networking, and the bene- is where the shoes pinch his own the field of rehabilitation. fits of journaling, mindfulness, feet...Every individual must be We offer our congratulations yoga, art and music, and more. consulted in such a way actively, on the successful conference for Approximately 300 persons not passively, that he himself consumers presented by the attended, providing many brain becomes a part of the process of MossRehab Traumatic Brain injury survivors with the infor- authority and his needs and Injury Model System on Novem- mation needed to make current wants are considered in deter- ber 8, 2014 at the Pennsylvania and future choices. mining social policy.” Convention Center in Philadelphia, Of course, also of utmost impor- PA. The conference, New Roads, tance is hearing from consumers— In This Issue New Directions: Finding Your listening to their narratives and Way after Brain Injury, deliv- understanding what is important Tips on Managing the Holidays ............... page 2 ered on its promise to provide to them as they progress through survivors of brain injury and their rehabilitation and the rest of Who’s Who and What’s Happening ...... page 2 family members and friends with their lives. Even many years a broad array of lectures, work- ago, John Dewey (1859-1952), Spotlight on... shops, and resource materials. a noted American psychologist, Terri Chase .................. page 3 The topics spanned medical and philosopher, educator, social Creativity Corner ............. page 6 mental health issues, cognitive critic, and political activist, said, and vocational challenges, among other things, “There is Race for Recovery .......... page 7 Page 2 BrainWaves Fall 2014 Tips on Managing the Holidays Who’s Who… Welcome to our new clients— With so many holidays coming soon, planning for them has been on our Brigette, Caitlyn, Charles, Cody, minds. Although most people look forward to the holidays, many people Ian, Jesse, Jim, John, Joseph, also acknowledge that they feel substantial stress when trying to get everything done in advance of the holidays and then managing holiday Michael, and Paul. activities. Last year, Stefani Eichelberger, M.S.W., LCSW, CBIS, our ...and What’s Happening! client services liaison in south central Pennsylvania, and Ashley Fake, M.S., NCSP, neurorehabilitation specialist on our staff, prepared some Stefani Eichelberger, M.S.W., handouts on helpful ways to manage the holidays, and distributed them at LCSW, CBIS, our client local brain injury support groups. We decided to include the suggestions services liaison in south central in this issue of BrainWaves, in case some of our readers are feeling the Pennsylvania, and her husband, stress of the holidays as well as the excitement. The following are just Clark, had their first child on some of Stefani’s and Ashley’s suggestions, based on their personal and September 4, 2014. Caroline professional experiences, and a review of ideas on resources such as Hope Eichelberger was 8 brainline.org: pounds, 10 ounces at birth and Plan ahead for holiday events and activities. was 21¼ inches. Congratula- * Make a list of activities and prioritize them; decide which ones are tions to them! (Stefani will be important to you and plan for them. (No one has to go to every back to work on December 1, event to which he or she is invited!) 2014.) * When planning to attend an event or activity, find out the details. Reneé Puglisi, B.S., CTRS, ° Learn who, what, where, and when. CBIS, our client services ° If possible, find out the timeline of events. (The more you liaison in New Jersey, returned know, the more prepared you will be!) from her maternity leave on ° Try to anticipate or imagine what will happen at the event. November 3, 2014. We are very happy to have her back. * Keep to your daily routine as much as possible, including exercising, and be sure to take your medications as prescribed. Congratulations to Kate Schenk, * Use your calendar to schedule the activities/tasks you plan to do. M.A., CBIS, for passing the Pace yourself. exam to be recognized as a certified brain injury specialist. * Be realistic about what you can do. * Be aware of your body’s signs of stress and fatigue and take a Christine continues to volun- break when you feel you need one. teer independently at a pre- * Spread out activities to lessen stress and increase enjoyment. school and to routinely attend the adjacent Senior Center, (You don’t have to do everything in one day!) where she has made friends. Surround yourself with supportive, caring people. * Stay positive; focus on the fun you can have. Jeremy has been taking GED preparation classes at a local * Ask for help if you need it. (You don’t have to do everything community college, and has by yourself! No one has to!) begun volunteering as well. Keep gift-giving simple. Following a period of services * Limit gift exchanges. through Community Skills * Give gift cards. Program, Julia returned to her * Give some people the same gift; that is okay. job as a school crossing guard * Make cards with thoughtful messages. and has made an impressive * Make homemade gifts. transition back to work. Fall 2014 BrainWaves Page 3 SPOTLIGHT ON . Terri Chase Spotlight: Tell us about your Spotlight: You said you were in disability. the hospital for 30 days. What hospital did you go to? Terri: I had two strokes. My first stroke was in 2007. My carotid Terri: I was at The Reading artery was 95% blocked. Hospital and Medical Center in West Reading, PA. Spotlight: Did you have any side effects from your first stroke? Spotlight: Where did you receive rehabilitation? Terri: My right arm was limp and I had surgery. I had no other side Terri: I received inpatient thera- effects. pies at The Reading Hospital. Spotlight: Did you have any cogni- Spotlight: Did you receive any Terri Chase tive problems? outpatient therapies? Spotlight: Can you tell us a little Terri: No. Terri: Yes, I went to HealthSouth [HealthSouth Reading Rehabili- about yourself? Spotlight: Did your doctors make tation Hospital in Reading, PA]. Terri: My name is Terri. I am 44 any recommendations? The Reading Health Rehabilitation years old and live in Reading, PA. Terri: My doctors told me I needed Hospital in Wyomissing, PA had I am a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers to take better care of myself. I was not opened yet. fan. I like Hello Kitty. I also like smoking one and a half packs of Spotlight: While at HealthSouth, pigs. cigarettes a day and was not eating did you receive occupational, Spotlight: Can you tell us about healthy. The doctors told me that I physical, and speech therapies? your family? would end up back in the hospital if I didn’t take better care of myself. Terri: Yes, I had all three. I had Terri: I live with my boyfriend, speech therapy for about one Duane. I have a 26-year-old son Spotlight: Did you follow their month, and occupational and recommendations? named Payton. My mother, Brenda, physical therapy for about six is my best friend, and we are always Terri: Not exactly. I continued to months. I later had some additional there for each other. My mom and smoke and not eat right. A year and outpatient therapies at The Reading my boyfriend are great support a half later, on August 13, 2009, I Health Rehabilitation Hospital, for systems. I talk to my mom every had a second stroke as a result of a one year. day. I try to do things on my own, brain tear. My entire right side of Spotlight: Did you have any but I know I need help. For example, my body was affected. I was in the cognitive issues after your second I need help carrying items up and hospital for 30 days. down stairs. stroke? Spotlight: You said your entire Terri: I did not notice any I also have many friends. I met right side was affected; can you immediately after my stroke, but some great friends in the Women’s elaborate? Therapeutic Activities Group of for the past two to two and a half Community Skills Program. I thank Terri: I have to wear a brace on my years, I have noticed that I stutter. God for that group. right foot. I also could not use my I have also noticed that I have more right hand and had to learn how to short-term memory problems. I Spotlight: What is your educational do everything with my left hand. I also interrupt people if there is background? have had multiple surgeries on my something I want to say, because I Terri: I went to Reading High School right hand to help it not be so don’t want to forget it.