The Frustrations and Joys of Retraining after Catastrophic Injuries

It 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 pulled from beneath us? We’re not talking about job loss for economic reasons, such as competition or because a job was eliminated because of downsizing. We are talking about unemployment on a far more personal level: your own catastrophic injury. That’s the frustrating part because you can only look to you for the cause — and you did nothing wrong!

It could have been a(n):

• Automobile collision
• Stroke
• Limb amputation
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Mild brain injury that interferes with present work-related activities
• Work-related injury of some other kind

There are many technical (or “hard”) aspects that could be discussed about the biomechanics of the injury or of the rehabilitation designed for an individual’s recovery and intended to achieve the best possible outcome for him or for her. No matter the route, the overall goal is to reach independence.

The development and implementation of a Client Goal Plan within the first 72 hours of admission NeuLife in Mount Dora, Florida, is achieved through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team consisting of neurologists and other physicians, neuropsychologists, RNs, nurse case managers and others. Despite the vital importance of all of that, and of the biomechanics and neurology of the rehabilitation and neurorehabilitation, we’re not here to discuss it right now. That’s because there is more than the technical side of things. There is a less technical —what might be called a “softer” side — to all of this.

A study reported in the September 2014 issue of the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation dealt with an evaluation of Washington State’s vocational rehabilitation system in the context of work-related injuries. Specifically, it looked at, among other things, injured workers’ assessment of the vocational rehabilitation system before and after having gone through vocational retraining. Interestingly, a statistically significant larger proportion of individuals were satisfied with the vocational rehabilitation system and the likelihood of returning to work before they entered vocational rehabilitation than after they had emerged from the retraining program[1].

Among the recommendations for improvement of the retraining program were these:

• More worker input into the retraining goal;
• A better fit of the retraining goal with the individual’s experience and abilities; and
• Paying greater attention to and understanding the individual with respect to his or her interests, goals and limitations.

Among the conclusions that can be drawn from the study is that in addition to the “hard” physical rehabilitation that is provided and required at all levels of care, the softer side of post-acute rehabilitation such as that in which NeuLife excels is vital.

The “softer” side of rehabilitation takes into account the fact that individuals who come to NeuLife for post-acute rehabilitation are not merely clients; they are clients with pasts. With presents. With futures. With futures that are filled with potential and with dreams for which they seek help in achieving.

NeuLife is wholly dedicated to help retrain its clients toward independence to the fullest extent of their physical and psychological abilities, and thereby, to a new life. NeuLife does this initially by an independent functional assessment and based upon it, the development of a unique Client Goal Plan into which the client, his or her family and a multidisciplinary team of professionals has input. NeuLife, thereafter, provides superior care and consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served. NeuLife understands that our clients have needs and wants, abilities and deficits. The needs, wants and abilities are nurtured every hour of every day. That’s where the joys fit in.

Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period” — the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.

NeuLife’s philosophy is that healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best achieved in a positive and uplifting therapeutic environment where caring staff encourages, assists and supports each client so he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife believes personal fulfillment is equally as important as foals to achieve function and independence.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic amputations and other catastrophic injuries.

2725 Robie Avenue

Mount Dora, Florida 32757

[1] Injured worker’s assessment of vocational rehabilitation services before and after retraining, Sears, JM. Wickizer, TM, Schulman, Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2014 Sept;24(3)458-68,  10.10007/s10926-013-9479-0