The Importance of a Residential Environment for Re-gaining Independence after a Traumatic Accident

Rehabilitative services are very different from hospital care. Traumatic brain injuries or catastrophic accidents lead to residual impairments beyond hospital level (acute) care. Residential or inpatient environment can address these impairments. A residential rehabilitation environment, like NeuLife, focuses on physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral and functional improvements. It focuses on establishing goals for an individual to achieve an independent lifestyle. Research has shown individuals who receive post-hospital (post-acute) residential rehabilitation within the first six months following an injury showed the greatest improvement from admission to discharge. Even the most chronic individual experienced significant improvements, including improvements in persistent cognitive deficits. The improvements in these skills were associated with a reduction in disability with regard to participation in societal roles.

Residential rehabilitation environments provide a safe place to continue recovery once an individual has completed hospital care. Some individuals are not ready to come home right away and need specialized rehabilitation. A residential rehabilitation environment is important for an individual working toward independence because it provides a controlled environment. A controlled environment can help individuals practice new skills without considerable risk of injury or harm. It provides a safe, therapeutic environment to explore new emotions and behaviors that might be different post injury. A residential environment can help facilitate relationships with others who have similar experiences. There are also many benefits for the family and friends. Family and friends have an opportunity to participate in counseling sessions, learn about effective therapies or medications and have the assurance of knowing a loved one’s needs are being cared for.

NeuLife’s residential programs offer specialized rehabilitation specific to the client’s needs. The multidisciplinary team consists of a physician, rehab nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, recreational therapist, psychologist/neuropsychologist, social worker and nutritionist. The program is managed by the medical director.

A residential program can assist in the following areas:

• Retraining in activities of daily living: ADLs (doing laundry, cooking, bathing, eating);
• Pain management;
• Assistive technology (prescription wheelchairs or walking aids);
• Environmental manipulation (installation of lifts, ramps and rails and bathroom alterations);
• Use of major equipment (hoist to facilitate individual transfer, special seating in vehicles); and
• Use of home environment modifications (bathroom modifications, non-skid flooring, hand rails).

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing superior care and specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic amputations and other catastrophic injuries. NeuLife has excellent neurobehavioral and related services to help a client cope with the feelings associated with living through a traumatic accident.

NeuLife consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of quality clinically relevant services to our clients with catastrophic injuries and other challenging diagnoses in order to achieve superior outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served. Healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best accomplished in a positive and uplifting therapeutic environment where caring staff encourage, assist and support each one of our clients so they may achieve their specific goals.

2725 Robie Avenue
Mount Dora, Florida 32757