Headway is helping survivors of brain injury
A brain injury can happen to anyone at any time. It may be caused by trauma such as a road traffic accident or assault, through illness such as stroke or tumour, or through lack of oxygen.
Living with challenges caused by an acquired brain injury (ABI) can be overwhelming, not just for the survivor but also for the people who support them. That is where Headway North Staffordshire comes in.
Based at Headway House, Elder Road, Cobridge, the centre provides survivors with opportunities to regain skills that were lost following their injuries.
Samantha Holdcroft, Fundraising and Communications Manager, said: “Headway North Staffordshire supports adult survivors of an ABI to regain their independence and achieve goals that are important to them. Our specialised support takes a whole person approach, addressing the multiple physical, emotional and cognitive issues survivors may experience.”
Headway North Staffordshire offers:
- Art and craft sessions. Art provides stimulation as service users plan and execute their designs, also improving hand-eye co-ordination, giving a sense of accomplishment.
- Physical activity sessions e.g., armchair boogie and indoor games such as curling or boccia which can provide gentle physical exercise.
- Cognitive activities designed to stimulate thinking and memory.
- A well-equipped gym, with regular group exercise sessions.
- One-to-one neurophysio and occupational therapy to address physical weaknesses.
- Speech and language therapy
- Counselling support for survivors and their loved ones.
Brain injuries change lives, but with the right support, recovery is possible. Sam added: “We see survivors achieve amazing things – walking or talking again when they were told they wouldn’t be able to. We see survivors supporting and motivating each other, which create bonds between them. It’s inspiring.”
For example, following surgery to remove a brain tumour, one survivor struggled with the emotional impact of what had happened to her. She attends Headway North Staffordshire every week where she receives a neurophysio session and joins in with activities taking place in the centre. When asked about her journey, she said: “My balance has improved. When I had the tumour my balance went, but that has improved. My strength has improved a lot. And I’ve made friends.”
Facts about ABI
Every 90 seconds, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury (ABI). Some people recover with no long-term effects, for others, a brain injury is a life-changing event.
The nature of the change depends on the severity of the damage and where in the brain the damage is located. As such, each survivor’s experience is unique. Typically, survivors can expect to experience one or more of the following challenges:
- Physical: reduced or no use of one side of the body, lack of mobility, reduced limb movement, sight problems, speech impairments, extreme fatigue.
- Cognitive: reduced functions including poor memory, difficulty in concentration, speed of thinking, difficulty planning and executing tasks.
- Mental and emotional: anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, poor self-image, personality changes.
