For individuals finding it difficult or impossible to live independently after a traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), or other neurologic, catastrophic or challenging diagnosis, including those...
Continue Reading »The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a federal agency that is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Its main goal is to protect public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability. The CDC directs national attention on developing and applying disease control and injury […]
Continue ReadingI bet you didn’t know that March is Brain Injury Awareness month. If you didn’t then you aren’t alone. These days we are bombarded with causes. There might as well be a month dedicated to Awareness Month Fatigue. However, Brain Injury Awareness Month is one that needs your attention and there are some great people […]
Continue ReadingIt is commonplace for an individual who has sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to experience or to display outward behavioral and emotional changes following it. The traumatic brain injury (TBI) may have been mild, such as a concussion, more severe or somewhere in between. Two main kinds of occurrences account for most traumatic brain […]
Continue ReadingGenerically, baseline testing may be defined as any test that measures current or pre-treatment parameters against which responses to therapy may be measured[1]. Stated otherwise, this kind of test is administered before an activity or therapy in order to ascertain an equilibrium or “resting state” measurement. Knowing that, it can be determined what effect the […]
Continue ReadingFor the past number of years, there has been much discussion in the media, the medical profession and within professional, amateur and even school sports, about traumatic brain injury. Concussions, often deemed to be a “mild brain injury,” are usually categorized as the least catastrophic on the traumatic brain injury spectrum and this is where […]
Continue ReadingIt is a truism that athletics, especially competitive sports, play a large role in American life. A 2014 Harris Poll reported that, for at least 30 years, NFL football was the most popular sport in America according to a sampling of individuals over 18 years old. The same poll determined that other sports ranked after […]
Continue ReadingThe term “concussion” may suggest that only a minor trauma has occurred. After all, individuals who play various kinds of contact sports, or who are involved in motor vehicle accidents or who sustain what seem, at the time, relatively minor work-related injuries are often said to have sustained concussions. Concussions may seem like minor trauma […]
Continue ReadingAcute care and short term needs must be immediately addressed following any head injury. It is also necessary to determine the location and cause of the injury. That information may suggest some or all of the individual’s physical or mental deficits that exist or might be anticipated to arise in the future. In turn, the […]
Continue ReadingAlthough all traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are potentially serious, usually require rehabilitation or specialized rehabilitation at some level and can have far-reaching implications for an individual’s independence, differentiations are made between and among the types of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The distinctions are based, in part, upon causation, whether they are open or closed head […]
Continue ReadingNeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida, a premier provider of post-acute rehabilitation is pleased to recognize March as Brain Injury Awareness Month. NeuLife Rehab provides innovative post-acute rehabilitation by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. Our Clients are individuals who have sustained traumatic brain injuries (TBI) which are sometimes called acquired brain injuries, mild brain injuries […]
Continue ReadingWe tend to think, for better or for worse, that our value in life is dependent solely upon our ability to be productive members of society. If we think this, then our self-worth, self-esteem, and even our spirit comes from our vocation in our community. Unfortunately, the community of those with a spinal cord injury […]
Continue ReadingThe connection between sexuality and traumatic brain injury (TBI) may not be immediately apparent, but decidedly, it exists. When an individual sustains a traumatic brain injury and is in the acute and sub-acute stage of care, the primary goals are sustaining life and limiting the short and mid-term effects of the traumatic brain injury by […]
Continue ReadingWhen an individual emerges successfully from acute care and sub-acute care, he or she enters the post-acute stage of care. The traumatic injury that required the care may have been any one or more of the following occurrences and caused a variety of deficits that require post-acute rehabilitation. The occurrences and results can include: A […]
Continue ReadingInnumerable physical and psychological changes to an individual can accompany a catastrophic injury. The injury may have resulted from one or more of the following, or other, causes: A motor vehicle accident An occurrence causing a spinal cord injury A head injury A severe traumatic brain injury A mild traumatic brain injury Multiple trauma Post-traumatic […]
Continue ReadingOccurrences that are generically called catastrophic injuries can be of many types. They can result from a variety of occurrences, many of which are sudden, unpredictable and allow for no physical or psychological preparation. Depending upon the type of occurrence or injury, differing physical and cognitive disabilities may result. Some of the injuries and some […]
Continue ReadingAll NeuLife staff are devoted to helping individuals with catastrophic injuries in this highly specialized program. This is fully in keeping with NeuLife’s dedication to consistently provide the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services. You have successfully overcome the acute phase of a major medical, neurologic, orthopedic or other kind […]
Continue ReadingThe idea that music can have beneficial health effects goes back as far as Plato and Aristotle. Later, the concept of music’s rehabilitative effects was noted in a late 18th Century article in Columbian Magazine, and thereafter, it was the subject of two medical dissertations in the early 1800’s. Because of its early success, the […]
Continue ReadingAs a start to this discussion, and to help understand some of the innovative rehabilitation that NeuLife Rehab provides to Clients in their quest for independence, it is important to understand that there are several phases, or types, of memory. Many of our Clients, because of their traumatic brain injuries, have an impaired ability to […]
Continue ReadingIt is understandable, and perhaps predictable, that at least some of the individuals who become Clients of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida experience depression as a result of their catastrophic injuries or trauma. The injury or trauma may have resulted from: a brain injury a stroke a limb amputation a spinal cord injury a […]
Continue ReadingNeurological disorders or diseases are also called nervous system diseases or disorders. They include: Diseases caused by faulty genes, such as muscular dystrophy Problems with how the nervous system develops, like spina bifida Degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease Diseases and malfunctions of the blood vessels the supply the brain such as […]
Continue ReadingThere are numerous physical implications of a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI); all of them can be catastrophic. They are usually life changing for the individual who sustained it, and to his or her family. An SCI requires both acute care and post-acute rehabilitation. A Spinal Cord Injury can redefine an individual’s perception of and the […]
Continue ReadingSpinal cord dysfunction is catastrophic by nature, and can occur due to a trauma or disease. When it occurs by trauma, it is usually called a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). But spinal cord dysfunction can also be the result of disease and the resulting degeneration of nerve fibers, resulting in the inability transmit signals to […]
Continue ReadingThe spinal cord is a bundle of nerve fibers that lead from the the brain stem. As protection, it is encased in the bony structure that is the spinal column, although the spinal column is, itself, longer than the spinal cord. The spinal column consists of a set of stacked bones called “vertebrae.” While the […]
Continue ReadingAn individual’s spinal cord is one of two structures that constitute the central nervous system; the other is the brain. Whereas the brain generates the “commands” for movement and actions to be taken by parts of the body and also receives information from elsewhere in the body, the spinal cord transmits those commands and information. […]
Continue ReadingNearly any injury to the head is traumatic and many involve injury to the brain as a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The terms “TBI” and “head injury” are often used interchangeably and can result from direct impacts or other kinds of occurrences. Some of the other kinds of occurrences include: Neuronal injuries, which are injuries […]
Continue ReadingA stroke is a catastrophic injury of major proportion. It is sometimes called a “brain attack” and is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in every sense. At its most basic, it involves the breakage or clogging of an artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to other parts of the body, notably, to the […]
Continue ReadingA total amputation of a limb is the surgical severing of it from the body or, in some cases, the severing occurs at the time of the accident and it differs greatly, and more physically traumatic, from the surgical removal. A partial amputation of a limb is the surgical severing of a portion of it […]
Continue ReadingTraditionally, “real” success has been defined by a few factors or metrics. Two of these have been money and power. Although these might be deemed to be only “skin deep” under most sets of circumstances, their lack of depth is truly highlighted when an individual has sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury […]
Continue ReadingNeuLife Rehab covers all facets of rehabilitation. Each individual admitted to NeuLife undergoes a comprehensive assessment with a Client Goal Plan meeting established for review by the Client, family members, nurse case manager and attorney, if applicable, at an initial Goal Plan conference scheduled less than one week following admission. Each Client Goal Plan includes […]
Continue ReadingBehavioral changes and dysfunction related to psychiatric disorders are common after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The traumatic brain injury may have resulted from a motor vehicle collision, a work-related occurrence, a neurological incident such as a stroke or some other type of trauma. It may be a catastrophic brain injury or a mild brain […]
Continue ReadingRemember before your stroke? Remember before your TBI? Remember before the amputation? Of course you do. You may even recall them as the “good ol’ days.” In a way, they may have been the good old days. Then, you were accustomed to doing tasks, jobs, even the most basic activities of daily living (ADLs) in […]
Continue ReadingNot only are horses magnificent animals, pets and friends to many, but they can be an important part of the milieu of clinically relevant services provided at the post-acute level of rehabilitation. NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, strives to ensure the best possible outcome for each client and skillfully integrates these specialized horse therapies into […]
Continue ReadingIt is axiomatic that we define ourselves largely by what we perceive ourselves to be, what we were and by what we have done during our lives. Our personality, our education and our skills, both native and learned, build the parameters of who and what we are. But what happens when the proverbial rug gets […]
Continue ReadingMost middle-aged to older adults will know what ballroom dancing is. Just in case you don’t, it is a form of dancing, usually done in ballrooms (that’s a surprise!), or sometimes, just in any good-sized room, usually by couples (although sometimes singly), where the dancers move in a pre-set pattern. Move — remember that. Pre-set […]
Continue ReadingIt’s not just pets like dogs, cats, fish and reptiles that facilitate physical and psychological rehabilitation from catastrophic injuries and traumas. It’s all manner of animals. In prior articles, we discussed animals that are typically house pets. In another article, we discussed animals that are not house pets. By virtue of their sheer size — […]
Continue ReadingA vocation is not just work: It is the special way in which an individual spends his or her life before and after post-acute rehabilitation at NeuLife. Here’s how a vocational evaluator helps. One of the definitions of “vocation” is the special function of an individual or group[1]. Most individuals who come to NeuLife have […]
Continue ReadingHIPAA is the acronym for a vital body of federal law, The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that has existed since 1996. Because it is a federal law (codified laws are sometimes called “statutes”), it applies to all states. Like virtually all statutes, HIPAA addresses a number of topics, sometimes disparate ones. Also, like […]
Continue ReadingThe main variant between what may be characterized as a “mild” brain injury and a “severe” brain injury is the degree to which the brain operates differently after the traumatic brain injury. The difference depends upon some or all of the following factors: The part of the brain that was injured: This is because different […]
Continue ReadingA loved one has just been treated and stabilized by medical professionals in a hospital setting and is ready to begin the next phase of rehabilitation. This is an important time for the individual and family members because choosing the correct rehabilitation facility or program sets the tone for a successful recovery. “Residential” is not […]
Continue ReadingThe goal of everything we do for our clients in their post-acute rehabilitation experience at NeuLife is geared toward advancing them toward independence to the fullest extent of their physical and psychological abilities. NeuLife consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceed […]
Continue ReadingOnce acute care and short-term needs have been addressed following a traumatic head injury, the process of evaluating it to determine its cause, potential brain involvement and ascertaining the severity of the injury begins. Generically, this is referred to as formulating a diagnosis[1]. Of course, the preliminary diagnosis may change, but as the hours, days, […]
Continue ReadingBecause independence is the goal of physical rehabilitation, specialized rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation and all of the elements of a Client Goal Plan at NeuLife, a very important and special member of the team is the Life Skills Technician (LST). Everyone at NeuLife recognizes that after a catastrophic injury, life is different. Not at an end, but […]
Continue ReadingThe use of the term “average” is a misnomer when it comes to the clients of NeuLife in Mount Dora, Florida. None of them are average. They are all unique. They are unique for many reasons: Their backgrounds and the manner in which they define “independence.” The way in which they sustained their catastrophic injury. […]
Continue ReadingTraumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are all potentially serious and usually require rehabilitation or specialized rehabilitation at some time on the recovery continuum of care. They can have far-reaching implications and effects upon an individual’s independence. However, distinctions are made between and among them. The distinctions are based, in part, upon causation, whether they are open- […]
Continue ReadingWhen you think about traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and catastrophic accidents you might tend to think of rambunctious teenage boys or young adult men looking to explore adulthood. There are three other populations that are affected by these traumatic experiences: children (0-4 years old), the elderly (65 and older) and women. Males are at least […]
Continue ReadingAcquired brain injury (ABI) is another type of catastrophic brain damage. The other type is usually called “traumatic brain injury (TBI).” Both occur after birth. Therefore, the terms do not indicate genetic or congenital disorders. Likewise, they do not indicate hereditary, degenerative or brain damage that is induced by birth trauma. Thus, because Parkinson’s and […]
Continue ReadingFamily members have a difficult decision to make when their loved one is too impaired to manage part or all of activities of daily living (ADLs). Guardianships were created to provide help for an individual who has experienced a catastrophic injury, illness or is otherwise disabled and unable to make responsible decisions concerning medical, legal […]
Continue ReadingContrary to what might be initially thought when hearing the term “occupational” in the phrase “occupational therapy,” it does not directly refer to the immediate return to work by a person who has sustained a catastrophic injury such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a spinal cord injury SCI. Instead, occupational therapy involves the […]
Continue ReadingAt its simplest, a behavior analyst is an individual or a member of a team of psychological professionals who use behavior therapy as a means of helping individuals who have experienced psychological trauma. While the psychological trauma does not necessarily have to result from the occurrence of and rehabilitation from a catastrophic injury such as […]
Continue ReadingIndividuals who seek treatment for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) have all levels of general overall health. Some have very good overall health with no evidence of pre-existing conditions and some have poor overall health and have been regularly treated by a general physician and some have poor overall health and have not received regular […]
Continue ReadingIt is the mission of NeuLife as an organization to provide a comprehensive program of neurologic rehabilitation to support and promote the improvement of the quality of life for our patients.
As with all NeuLife provisions and specialized services, clients and designated family members and/or legal guardians participate in the referral, assessment and admission process. All services provided and those offered to our clients are arranged and coordinated by our care coordinators and are all-inclusive in a comprehensive per diem specific to each client.
