Helping the Caregiver

Expectant parents go to the hospital anticipating a happy and healthy birth. Instead, some parents are devastated to learn that their newborn suffered a brain injury during birth. The tragic news is just the beginning of months and years of concern and care for their child. Parents and other caregivers can become overwhelmed with the time, energy and financial support needed to raise their infant.

Caregivers are facing a number of worries including financial, emotional and physical issues. Some of these concerns can be devastating for families. Parents must first go through a grieving process over the loss of the child they thought they would have. They must come to terms with the fact that their child has a disability and will require care for a long period of time. As with any grieving process, the mother and father will go through various grieving stages including the loss of their own lives as they know them. Parents might want to seek support from a therapist or other professional to deal with this loss.

Immediate and Long Term Financial Needs

The financial needs of caring for a disabled child can be costly. The parents have likely already incurred a great many costs associated with the child’s brain injury. The child requires ongoing medical care which could include surgery, hospital stays, diagnostics and treatments that could reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars or more over the life of the child.

In addition to medical costs, there are other expenses as well. The psychological and rehabilitative costs, expenses for nurses and other professionals must also be considered. Many of these expenses are not covered by insurance. Further, the parents might need to take time off work or stop working entirely in order to care for the infant. These financial worries can put a strain on the entire family.

Emotional Issues of Care Givers

Caring for a child with a serious brain injury can be a difficult and tedious process. Care givers need to seek support from others so they can cope with their own emotions. Sometimes parents spend so much time taking care of a child they spend little time on anything else. The result can be a physical or emotional breakdown.

There are some signs of caregiver stress that should be noticed. These include changes in behavior or temperament, anger, social withdrawal, irritability, lack of concentration and changes in personal relationships. These warning signs should not be ignored. They are an indication that the caregiver requires some support or assistance.

Support for Caregivers

Family members and other caregivers need support from time to time while caring for an injured child. There are a number of ways to seek the help that is necessary. Various types of support groups are available in Ohio to include parenting or peer groups, counseling programs, and workshops. The Brain Injury Association of Ohio is one of the places where caregivers and others can get information and support. Psychology Today provides a list of support groups for parents and others in Ohio. Parents may seek help through various organizations and through their local hospital and support professionals.