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Home and Community Neuro-Rehabilitation

What is home and community neuro-rehabilitation?

Home and community neuro-rehabilitation, also called transitional neuro-rehabilitation, describes the process of helping people aged 14 years or older who have experienced acquired brain injury gain the skills they need to transition into work, school, or the community. In addition to reducing symptoms and improving function, transitional neuro-rehabilitation also improves the well-being of the patient.

The process of transitional neuro-rehabilitation directly involves the injured individual in making plans and setting personal goals that are important to their own circumstances. Therefore, transitional neuro-rehabilitation is a process that is not done to the person who has suffered a brain injury or condition, but a process that is done by the person who has suffered a brain injury or condition, with the guidance, support, and assistance of a wide range of professionals.

Active involvement by the patient and their family is vital to the success of transitional neuro-rehabilitation. It also requires active partnership with a range of health and social service professionals. These could include any, or all, of the following:

  • Physiatrist
  • Neurosurgeon
  • Orthopedic surgeon
  • Internist
  • Other specialty physicians
  • Rehabilitation specialists
  • Registered dietitian
  • Physical therapist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Speech/language therapist
  • Recreational therapist
  • Social worker
  • Psychologist
  • Psychiatrist
  • Case manager
  • Audiologist
  • Chaplain
  • Vocational counselor

What is home and community neuro-rehabilitation used for?

Transitional neuro-rehabilitation is for people who have suffered from brain trauma or injuries and require guidance to return to their everyday lives. Conditions treated through transitional neuro-rehabilitation include:

  • Aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, dural arteriovenous fistula, or other blood vessel disorders of the brain
  • Brain injury, including injuries from oxygen deprivation or traumatic injury
  • Brain tumors
  • Infections, such as meningitis, encephalitis, polio, and brain abscesses
  • Ischemic strokes (caused by blood clots), hemorrhagic strokes (caused by bleeding in the brain), and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
  • Epilepsy and seizure disorders

Am I a good candidate for home and community neuro-rehabilitation?

You may be a candidate for transitional neuro-rehabilitation if:

  • You are aged 14 years or older
  • You have the cognitive skills and personal maturity to make the commitment to transitional neuro-rehabilitation
  • You have the sincere desire to return to a productive life in school, at work, and in the community
  • You have a referral from a physiatrist or a neuro-rehabilitation specialist

Information and Resources

American Society of Neurorehabilitation