Brain Injury Program at Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital

Our brain injury program, certified through the Joint Commission, is specially designed to address the unique recovery needs of people who experienced brain injuries. Recovery occurs in phases, with each patient progressing at their own pace. We help you set and achieve your personal goals.

Typically, brain injury patients must deal with memory impairments, disorientation, swallowing/eating impairments, changes in behavior and mood, weakness, and balance and coordination issues.

Our secure environment is structured and treatment is focused on providing consistency and repetition in daily routines and activities. Orientation and memory strategies are key initiatives as patients progress toward higher level skills in problem-solving and judgment.

Therapeutic Goals and Focus

• Maximize independence in self care and activities of daily living
• Treat secondary medical conditions and promote/maintain health
• Establish functional mobility techniques
• Establish a functional communication method to express needs and to understand information
• Improve functional abilities in memory, concentration, problem solving and safety
• Provide community reintegration experiences
• Behavior management
• Provide patient/family education and training to prepare for return to home and community
• Identify equipment needs and home modifications to promote independence
• Provide support and counseling to assist with adjustment to disability and identifying coping strategies
• Establish a comprehensive discharge plan to home and community with required support and assistance from family and community resources

Rehabilitation Treatment Model

Clinical Guidelines: Brain injury specific clinic rehabilitation evaluation and treatment guidelines are followed by the team

Clinical Protocols: The treatment protocols utilized by the rehab team in care delivery are continuously updated based on best clinical practices

Special Program Services

• Case management services to coordinate treatment
• Patient and family support groups meet to address the ongoing challenges that patients and families face as a part of the recovery process and reintegration into home and community
• Patient and family education / training sessions
• Neuropsychological testing and counseling services
• Cognitive retraining
• Wheelchair / equipment clinic
• ADL suite – an apartment-like setting – designed as a safe and supervised environment for patients and families to begin the home integration process
• Community reintegration program that focuses on the skills necessary to manage at home, work / school and in the community
• Distraction-free environment
• Behavior modification/management programs that provide a therapeutic method of monitoring and decreasing inappropriate behaviors following brain injury
• WanderGuard system-a system that sounds an alarm when a patient is too close to an exit without necessary supervision
• Specialty equipment/beds that assist in keeping patients safe and promoting independence
• Swallow study and swallowing treatment
• Bowel and bladder retraining
• Patient/family adjustment counseling and support groups

Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital hosts a Brain Injury Support Group the first Wednesday of every month at 6 pm.
Please contact us for more information.