When it comes to choosing a suitable rehabilitation facility for your loved one, you want to choose one that not only specializes in traumatic brain injury, but also suits the survivor’s specific needs. While choosing the right rehabilitation facility is a highly individual choice, there are some services that all rehabilitation facilities should offer. These include the following:

• A doctor who is available around the clock. Your loved one is dealing with an unpredictable injury that could require immediate medical attention and quick decisions from an experienced physician.

• Experienced nursing care 24 hours per day. While most rehabilitation facilities have 24-hour nursing care, it’s important that the staff on duty have experience with brain injury patients.

• Flexible, individual, multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Each survivor’s needs will be different, and so each survivor’s rehabilitation plan should be specifically geared toward him or her. The rehabilitation team should consist of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, recreational therapists, and counselors who can all work together to devise an effective rehabilitation program.

• Family participation. When it comes to helping the survivor get better, family and friends play a large role. The program should include family and other loved ones in the rehabilitation process.

• Services that help the survivor re-enter the community. Gaining maximum independence and re-entering the community—whether it’s home, work, or school—is a big part of any rehabilitation program. Good rehabilitation programs have services that ensure this re-entry goes as smoothly as possible.

• Plenty of recreational activities during down times. When the survivor is not actively participating in rehabilitation, he or she should have plenty of opportunity to engage in fun, social activities.

• Facilities that simulate real-life situations. In some situations, survivors of brain injury have disabilities that cause them to have to relearn everyday activities, such as cooking and doing laundry. Many rehabilitation facilities have areas that allow the survivor to relearn these things in a supportive, healing environment.

• Help with choosing adaptive equipment and technology. In situations in which adaptive equipment or technology is necessary, a staff member who can guide the survivor toward the right equipment can make a huge difference is that survivor’s independence and success.