Monitoring and stabilization of basic life functions, such as respiration, is often needed. Following any needed neurosurgery and stabilization, a period of intensive medical supervision in the hospital may be necessary in an intensive care unit or neurological intensive care unit until the life-threatening nature of the injury lessens. The person may then be moved to a medical rehabilitation program within the hospital where he or she will continue to receive medical and nursing supervision while also receiving restorative therapeutic interventions, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.
Following a person’s discharge from the hospital, he or she may continue to need ongoing community-based rehabilitation programming. When the injury has resulting in serious and long-lasting disabilities with associated high needs of care, he or she may continue to receive rehabilitation through a nursing home or other extended-care environment.
People who experience a severe traumatic brain injury may have difficulty in a number of areas, including the ability to communicate, read, think and other things. Families may expect a loved one with such an injury to have a serious personality change or have anger outbursts or depression. Families often need help in providing ongoing care to their loved one after they suffer a severe brain injury. Additionally, families normally experience significant pecuniary losses, compounding the feelings of loss and stress they may feel because of the incident. However, people may be able to recover damages from those who caused the injury by filing a personal injury lawsuit.