BABICM conference 2023 family matters
What did the BABICM Conference 2023 have in common with our Krysalis neuro OTs?
Well, as evidenced by the first day’s conference focus, they share an understanding of exactly how much family matters after a catastrophic injury event.
Each client is unique, each injury is individual, and each family has its own patterns and characteristics. 
BABICM [1]
Day one of the 2023 conference of the British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management (BABICM) this month explored the crucial roles within families impacted by permanently life-changing injuries that impact independence or reduce life expectancy.
Reflecting the 2023 theme, ‘Steering Steady in a World of Complexity’, guest speakers shared lived experiences, therapeutic approaches and practice frameworks that support effective multidisciplinary team (MDT) support for families.
And, with the spotlight falling on specific parent/child relationships, we were prompted to recall how our own Krysalis neuro OTs help families to ‘steer steady’ after catastrophic injury...
Challenges for the injured parent
The most important thing was not just in the planning; it was the joy of doing something fun for his family that wasn’t the everyday stuff. Only OT, as a profession, is in the position to facilitate that.
Krysalis Neuro OT, Nichola Shellum
Father of young triplets and former police officer Matt sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a road crash while on duty.
His resulting cognitive, visual, and physical impairments required a complex MDT approach, including a 24-hour support worker, music therapy, vestibular physiotherapy, neuropsychology, and speech and language therapy.
Plus, of course, to pull all the support strands together, neuro occupational therapy, which, for Matt, was provided by our Clinical Manager and Neuro OT, Nichola Shellum.
Discover the imaginative OT strategies Nichola employed one Christmas to enable Matt to achieve his goal of being the best dad possible to his three little girls here: Rebuilding parental skills post-brain injury
Challenges for the parent of an adult-injured child
A ‘whole family’ approach must be adopted considering the home environment, family culture and belief systems, as well as the existing and previous roles of family members.
Jo Throp, Krysalis Clinical Director - Family Matters
It was a family affair after our Neuro OT, Zoe Martin met TBI s survivor Chris and his mum, Denise.
In 2014, Chris, then aged 24, had been working as a tree surgeon in Australia when he fell 50ft in a works accident.
The injury to Chris’s brain stem impacted all his fine and gross motor abilities, leaving him unable to move, apart from being able to open his left eye.
But, with support from MDT professionals and his family, guided by Zoe’s occupational therapy expertise, Chris is now walking and talking again and living with increasing independence in his home.
More on why family matters so much to Chris and his mum, Denise, in achieving their neurorehabilitation goals with Zoe here: Chris and Denise - a unique journey
Family challenges after brain injury
Families will often pass through several stages of responses after news of a catastrophic injury, such as a brain injury, affecting a loved one.
Each stage can involve uniquely different reactions, including anxiety, depression, less capacity to cope, or feeling isolated, trapped, or neglected.
Our neuro OTs are skilled in supporting family members to adapt and manage daily living changes and challenges after traumatic injury.
They can advise on building resilience levels, such as reducing distress and stress and achieving better outcomes for everyone involved.
More neuro OT advice on coping strategies here: How to raise resilience levels in brain injury survivors, their families and OTs [5]
Further reading
The emotional support provided by family members to relatives affected by brain injury is unconditional in many families I have met. It does, however, come with a price.
Jo Throp, Krysalis Clinical Director
Our Clinical Director shares her experience in recognising the complex needs of families living with brain injury.
Recently on talking heads...
References
1. BABICM Annual Conference 2023
2. Rebuilding parental skills post-brain injury
5. How to raise resilience levels in brain injury survivors, their families and OTs