Dear M,
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. The main thing now is that you do "NOT" give up hope! Any time someone has a traumatic brain injury, the best thing for them is time. This takes more time than other injury's to heal. But from what it sounds like to me, you are starting to see some regular progress, and that is good! He will continue to progress with regular stimulation. What you need to ask the hospital about, since he is no longer in need of as much direct care, as what is found on the regular hospital floors, and since he is not yet ready for rehab, is a "step down unit" or sometimes called a "swing bed unit" whose whole purpose is to prepare the patient for the rehabilitation floor. Our hospital has one, as do most other hospitals that I have been in. It may just be that the hospital he is in doesn't, and he will need to be transfered to one that does. I agree. You do not want him in a nursing home. I know that there are many of them that are just great...but there are more that are not. Personally, I have, through my medical career seen to many of these facilities, and I would never have a family member there...I must say though, that this is my "own" personal opinion....But I have just worked in...and around to many of them that looked absolutely beautiful on the outside, and for that matter the inside too...it is just different when all the family members go home, and the resident is there all alone. It is a very sad place at times. And I am sure there are many who will disagree as everyone's opinion varys...but if they have actually "worked" in one, they can not say even to themselves, that they like everything that goes on...and that is all I will say about that, except that if there is "ANY" possible way to keep your nephew from there..."I" would. I believe that he is going to make many more strides in his recovery, and just needs the help and encouragement to get there. I have listed you a few web sites to look through, a couple are about traumatic brain injury's and the possibilities, and different methods in care...what to expect etc. and the other is a Traumatic brain injury recovery center, where they specialize in the care and rehabilitation of these type patients only. This is another option for your family. What better place for him to be in...one where every minute he is stimulated toward the best possible recovery instead of sitting in a nursing home that specializes in the care of the aged.
Good Luck to you and your family, You are in my prayers.
http://www.neuroskills.com/index.shtml?main=/tbi/injury.html
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm
http://www.tbirecoverycenter.org/?sckw=traumatic%20brain%20injury&scsrc=google
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Thank-You,
and May God Bless.
Vickie
