Collisions involving bicycles and motor vehicles often result in serious injuries for riders, including traumatic brain injuries. As a result, they commonly need care, often from family members.
Caring for a loved one with a TBI comes with challenges but using the following tips may help people do their best to support those they care about through their recoveries.
Avoid recovery expectations
How long will it take to heal? The question is frequently posed to medical professionals treating bicycle accident injuries such as TBIs. While doctors may reasonably project the time needed for a broken bone to heal. They cannot do the same for traumatic brain injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, several factors affect people’s recovery from TBIs, including those such as the following:
- Type and severity of the injury
- Health before the accident
- Health care access
- Age
The family and social support people have after they suffer traumatic brain injuries also contribute to how well a person recovers.
Keep things simple
According to the Mayo Clinic, simplifying the environment and activities often benefits those living with TBIs. To this end, family caregivers keep items in the same places in their loved ones’ rooms. Developing and sticking to a consistent daily schedule, that accounts for the possibility of fatigue, and breaking tasks down tasks with step-by-step directions.
In addition to the care and support loved ones provide, people living with TBIs after bicycle accidents commonly need ongoing medical treatment. Therefore, those who suffer such injuries due to the negligent actions of others may consider options for recovering compensation for their accident-associated losses.