A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have lifelong and devastating effects. Anyone who sustained it must go through rehabilitation. Rehabilitation works with your body’s natural healing abilities to encourage recovery as effectively as possible. It also channels the relearning skills of the brain to learn new ways to compensate for abilities affected or damaged permanently by the brain injury. The primary goal for rehabilitation is to allow individuals to execute their activities of daily living (ADLs) independently and safely so they can proceed to other types of rehabilitation and life transitions. If someone you love or know requires traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, then understanding the gravity of the condition will help you know how to go about the rehabilitation process and which institution can best help you.
Types of Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Acute Rehabilitation
People who sustain brain injuries must start acute rehabilitation as early as possible during the recovery process. You can find this treatment in a special unit of a rehabilitation hospital, trauma hospital or some type of inpatient setting. Acute rehabilitation aims to help the individual regain control to perform as many daily living activities as possible such as speaking, walking, using the bathroom, eating and dressing.
Post-Acute & Sub-Acute Rehabilitation
If the patient has progressed enough to go through more intensive therapy, then they may be transferred to a sub-acute rehabilitation facility. Programs under sub-acute rehabilitation suit people with brain injury who require less-intensive rehabilitation services for a long time. Likewise, sub-acute rehabilitation programs may also help people who already progressed or are progressing from the acute rehabilitation setting but cannot see rapid functional gains. These types of programs are available at nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities.
Day Rehab or Day Treatment
As the name implies, day treatment or day rehab is a rehabilitation program in a structured group setting during the day. It gives the affected individual the chance to go home at night following their session. Some people transfer to a day program after they get discharged from an inpatient post-acute rehabilitation facility, while there are those that go directly to sub-acute rehabilitation following hospital discharge.
Outpatient Therapy
After acute, post-acute, or sub-acute rehabilitation, or any combination of these, the injured person may still receive outpatient therapies to support and continually encourage his or her recovery. Outpatient therapy is also usually an option for people not severely injured but still need to address the effects of brain injury.
Brain Rehabilitation Centers in Chicago
If a loved one or someone you know is suffering from traumatic brain injury, then here are some top TBI centers in Chicago.
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (Formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)
U.S. News and World Report has previously named the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago as the top rehabilitation hospital in the country. Found on the north side of the city, the facility provides services in cooperation with alliance hospitals across Illinois. The organization’s dedicated brain injury rehabilitation program has been considered as the model system for rehabilitation facilities.
Address: 355 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Phone: (3120 238-1000
URL: https://www.sralab.org
Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital
Located in Chicago’s Illinois Medical District, near Douglas Park, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital offers a tried, tested and lengthy track record of successful outcomes for patients. it provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient service to TBI victims including those with spinal cord injuries.
Address: 1401 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: (773) 522-2010
URL: https://www.sinai.org/content/schwab-rehabilitation-hospital-0
Amen Clinics
Amen Clinics provides brain rehabilitation programs which focus on properly diagnosing traumatic brain injuries. Many times, the wrong diagnosis can ruin the chances of the patient to get better. Amen Clinics uses brain SPECT imaging to evaluate the functions of the brain allowing doctors to come up with targeted treatment plans.
Address: 2333 Waukegan Rd Suite 150, Bannockburn, IL 60015
Phone: (224) 804-9220
URL: https://www.amenclinics.com/locations/chicago/
Portrait Health Centers
Portrait Health Centers offers a long long-standing history of high-quality mental health and nutrition services. They have accredited experts that can provide individual counseling services to treat a variety of health concerns.
Address: 500 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 1530, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (8470 868-3435
URL: https://www.portraithealthcenters.com
Brain Injury Association of Illinois
The Brain Injury Association of Illinois offers support for brain injury victims. It is a non-profit membership group that also has a team of top traumatic brain injury specialists.
Address: P.O. Box 70, Palos Heights, IL 60463
Phone: (312) 726-5699
URL: https://www.biail.com
Right to Compensation
Traumatic brain injuries can come from a multitude of causes but if the accident that caused your (or a loved one’s brain injury) was not your fault and was a result of another negligent party then you may be entitled to compensation for damages.
If you believe that your case or your loved one’s case falls under this, then consult with an experienced brain injury attorney. He or she can help you bring the liable parties to court and even receive compensation for medical costs such as rehabilitation. Willens & Baez has 20 years of experience handling brain injury and other personal injury cases and is available to help brain injury victims understand their legal rights to compensation.
