Does It Matter Where on the Brain a Senior Suffers a TBI?
Each year throughout the United States millions of people suffer accidents and incidents that lead to injuries known as TBIs, or traumatic brain injuries. These occur when a jolt, blow, or bump to the head causes a change in the functioning of the brain. While this change can be very mild, resulting in only a short period of unconsciousness or an injury known as a concussion, it can also be very severe, resulting in lasting functioning problems or even death. As a family caregiver, understanding as much as you can about this type of injury can help you to make choices that will reduce the risk of your parent suffering such injuries, but also prepare you to give them the type of care that they need should they encounter one.
One question that you might have is whether the location of the TBI matters.
The answer is yes. The brain is a complex organ with different areas relating to different functions and responsibilities. Where the injury occurs in your parent’s brain determines how the injury will impact your parent’s functioning. For example, the temporal lobe maintains memory and hearing, while the occipital lobe is responsible for vision, and the brain stem controls breathing and heart rate.
Recognizing where in the brain your parent’s injury occurred can help you to identify the symptoms of their injury and to give them care and support as they recover. If your parent suffers a fall or other accident that results in TBI, make sure to ask their doctor where it occurred and what type of impact to expect so that you can be as prepared as you can to give them the highest quality of care possible.
Starting senior care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for them during the course of your caregiver journey. A senior home care services provider can be with your parent on a customized schedule to ensure that they have consistent access to the level of care that they need, while also fostering independence and keeping your care efforts at the forefront of their routine. Through a highly personalized set of services, this care provider can help to ensure that your parent stays happy, healthy, comfortable, and safe, while supporting a lifestyle that is as active, engaged, and fulfilling as possible as they age in place. As their family caregiver, this can give you peace of mind that any care gaps that might exist in your routine will be filled efficiently and effectively, and that your parent can enjoy a higher quality of life.
If you or someone you know needs help with senior care in Jenison, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html
http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/brain-injury-statistics/
http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/basics/definition/con-20029302
http://www.biausa.org/living-with-brain-injury.htm
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