NeuLife Clients and Depression – What We Do to Help

It 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 severe burn
• a motor vehicle accident
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• a work-related accident
• a myriad other occurrences that result in difficult and challenging diagnoses that are either catastrophic or mild.

Regardless of the kind of catastrophic injury that a Client has sustained, the goal of the innovative post-acute rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab is to achieve successful sustained outcomes. NeuLife Rehab’s professional team works to enable the Client to attain independence to the fullest extent that his or her physical and psychological condition allows.

Because depression may attend the recovery from a catastrophic injury, it is important to understand some of the reasons for that connection and what NeuLife Rehab can do to help. Using as an example a stroke or other catastrophic brain injury, factors influencing whether or not depression might occur can include:

• The area(s) of the brain affected. For example, if the part of the brain that primarily controls speech is involved, despite with the expert generalized post-acute rehabilitation and those clinically relevant services focusing on speech, the Client’s speech may not be equivalent to what it had been prior to the injury. If the Client valued his or her ability to clearly speak, or was involved in a profession or occupation that required that ability, the realization that the function has been diminished may result in depression. In that case, an especially vital members of the interdisciplinary team of specialists at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida would be a Board Certified psychiatrist or psychologist to work with the Client to directly treat the depression by behavioral analysis, cognitive therapy, traditional or specialized psychiatric or psychological rehabilitation and a Speech Language Pathologist because NeuLife Rehab’s professionals function as a multidisciplinary team, a Board Certified psychiatrist or psychologist will also work with the Client to directly treat the depression by behavioral analysis, cognitive therapy, traditional or specialized psychiatric or psychological rehabilitation as part of the overall Client Goal Plan.
• A stroke or brain injury may result in the loss of function of one or more parts of the body. As a result, the individual may experience a sense of loss of his or her independence for being unable to walk or otherwise attend to his or her own activities of daily living. In such a case, the Client Goal Plan designed by NeuLife Rehab will include rehabilitation and specialized rehabilitation to address short-term and long-term physical needs and compensatory strategies designed to assist the Client in achieving independence to an extent consistent with his or her physical and psychological abilities. If depression or behavioral change was diagnosed at either the sub-acute care level or when the individual underwent a behavioral analysis upon becoming a Client at NeuLife Rehab for post-acute rehabilitation, addressing the depression will be an integral part of the Client Goal Plan. Because NeuLife Rehab’s professionals function as a, interdisciplinary team, a Board Certified psychiatrist or psychologist will work with the Client to directly treat the depression by behavioral analysis, cognitive therapy, traditional or specialized psychiatric or psychological rehabilitation as part of NeuLife’s effort to consistently provide the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and to exceed the expectations of all persons served.

When an individual becomes a Client of NeuLife Rehab for post-acute rehabilitation, he or she resides in a beautiful 60,000 square foot facility located on a hill on 43 acres in Mount Dora, Florida. Every area has been therapeutically designed to enhance function, encourage wellness and independence, and promote appropriate interactions and social skills.  NeuLife Rehab is also sensitive to the fact that the families of Clients play a vital role in the rehabilitation process. Families are welcome to participate in scheduled team conferences and training, and to visit their loved ones during visiting hours.

Upon becoming a Client, the individual 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 Client Goal Plan Conference scheduled less than one week following admission. Each Client Goal Plan includes clinical needs for rehabilitation and covers personal goals and preferences of the Client. Therapies are provided by NeuLife full-time staff who are Florida licensed and/or certified professionals. The professionals include but are not limited to:

• Board Certified Neurologist
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst
• Board Certified Physiatrist
• Neuropsychologist
• Psychologist
• Board Certified Psychiatrist
• Speech Language Pathologist/Cognitive Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Nurses
• Certified Rehab Counselor

They and all other members of the NeuLife Rehab multidisciplinary team are devoted to their calling 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. NeuLife Rehab strives to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served.

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 goals 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), Amputations, Burns and other Catastrophic Injuries and Challenging Diagnoses.

2725 Robie Avenue

Mount Dora, Florida 32757