Updated November 2020
Employment
Prior to injury, most survivors of brain injury were employed and were financially independent. Reentering the world of work is often a priority for the individual.
The one to one programming statistics includes Employment Services. Several brain injury societies have discrete programs that focus on employment.
For other societies, providing clients with supports related to accessing and maintaining employment is part of regular one to one programming.
Many clients also access generic employment services (typically WorkBC), however they are more likely to be successful with obtaining and maintaining employment with the support of a brain injury society case manager.
Brain injury society staff have an in-depth understanding of the client and can help problem solve issues related to brain injury.
Programs that received Alliance funding supported 201+ individuals with obtaining employment opportunities including;
- truck driver, taxi driver, gardener, maintenance worker, housekeeper, peer support worker
- construction labourer, waitress, golf course groundskeeper, furniture mover, hobby farm hand (client is completing Horticultural certificate
- oil and gas construction industry
- youth athletic coach
- grounds keeping labourer
- janitor, personal shopper – grocery store, hardware store clerk, security guard, fitness coach1
Reduced Client Involvement with Medical/Hospital Services
Brain injury organizations reported that programs that received Alliance funding had an impact on reducing client involvement with medical/hospital services. Member agencies reported that 1,048 clients reduced involvement with Medical/Hospital Services.
Based on an average cost of $500 for a visit to an Emergency Department, if even 50% of those clients were diverted from attending an emergency room, the cost savings would have been approximately $262,000.00 in 2019-2020.
A study found that about 36 per cent of patients with TBI had been re-hospitalized within three years of their initial injury due to a variety of factors. Previously, readmission rates had been reported at about 25 per cent. In contrast, the study found the risk of re-hospitalization was lower for TBI patients involved in motor vehicle collisions. “We know that patients with TBI resulting from motor vehicle collisions are more than 50 per cent more likely to be discharged with support services than those who sustained their injury from other causes, likely due to supplemental auto insurance,” Dr. Colantonio said. “Because these patients appear to use fewer subsequent hospital services, this may suggest that additional care and rehabilitation provided earlier to all people with TBI could reduce the high costs of readmission.2
The Interior Health Community Response Team collaborates with BrainTrust to support high risk clients – to assess mental health issues and to stabilize clients. We also ensure clients are able to access medical supports (doctors).
BrainTrust
Reduced Client Involvement in the Justice System
Three clients were diverted and had involvement in the justice system reduced. Case management and crisis intervention assisted these clients to have their issues resolved by NBIA prior to having re-involvement with justice system.
Northern Brain Injury Association
Community brain injury organizations supported 130+ individuals reduce their involvement with the criminal justice system. Support with decision making, cognitive impairment, budgets/planning, housing, etc. can reduce the risk of incarceration.
In 2019-2020, Alliance member agencies:
- Served 142 inmates.
- Provided education to corrections staff (5 agencies).
- Likely resulted in at least 130 fewer interactions with the justice system through direct interventions.
In Addition…
Every brain injury society has reported that funding through the Alliance has resulted in:
- an increase to the numbers of clients served
- an increase in community partnerships obtained through community outreach and engagement
- an increase in the number of staff, staff retention and staffing hours, all of which result in improved service delivery to people living with acquired brain injury
Alliance funds allow us to hire Support Workers who support those clients who are living with the aftermath of acquired brain injury. Without Alliance funds, NOSBIS would be unable to have Support Workers on staff to provide services and the Support Worker Program would be discontinued. Pulling these services from clients who have come to rely on them would have devastating consequences for the current upward-trajectory in their progress to increased independence.
North Okanagan Brain Injury Society
Brain Injury Alliance funding has enabled Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association to expand the number of programs offered to people with acquired brain injuries and their supporters. It has helped us to provide services in two more communities (Langley and Mission, BC) on a much broader scale than we were able to before with the addition of one staff person.
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association
- figures extrapolated from data received from the Alliance September 2020 Final Program Report [↩]
- Re-hospitalization rates for traumatic brain injury higher than previously reported (2015, May 25) retrieved 25 May 2015 /
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-05-re-hospitalization-traumatic-brain-injury-higher.html [↩]