Long Term Changes in Family Needs After Brain Injury: A Preliminary Review

Abstract

When a family member acquires a brain injury the family as a whole is likely to experience severe emotional stress and strain in coping with and adjusting to the injured family member. Longitudinal studies of family adjustment have shown that families find it increasingly difficult to cope with the brain injured family member as the time (years) since injury increases. The increasing difficulty family members experience in coping with their brain injured relative led several researchers to investigate the needs of family members. Research investigating family needs after brain injury is limited to the first couple of years post trauma despite the finding that stress and burden continue to increase as the years progress. This paper reviews family needs research over the last three decades and provides a discussion of family needs and surrounding issues relevant to rehabilitation professionals.