Minister visits Acquired Brain Injury Ireland's Offaly centre

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland staff and residents were honoured to welcome Minister Hildegarde Naughton to the charity’s Midlands service and assisted living residence, ‘Teach Fáilte’, in Mountbolus recently.

During her visit the Minister, who is Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with responsibility for Disability, had an opportunity to learn more about the community-based rehabilitation services offered by Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Ireland in the Midlands region, which covers counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath. She met people who had been directly impacted by acquired brain injury and heard about their lived experiences of recovery and rehabilitation.

Minister Naughton described the value of neurorehabilitation services like those provided by ABI Ireland.

“In Government we understand that an acquired brain injury can have life-long and life-changing impacts for the person, as well as for their family. Timely, personalised neurorehabilitation can support those affected to increase their independence, maximise their ability, and participate as active citizens in our society.

“Having spoken to the residents and team at Teach Fáilte here today, it is very clear to see what is possible when someone recovering from a brain injury has access to the right support, at the right time, in the right environment.

“In the Programme for Government, we have committed to implementing community-based neurorehabilitation services in every Regional Health Area. This is an important step to ensure that survivors of brain injury right across the country are supported all along the pathway, from acute hospital to home.”

An estimated 19,000 people in Ireland acquire a brain injury every year. Through a range of community-based neurorehabilitation services, ABI Ireland supports as many of them as possible to return to leading more independent lives.

In the Midlands, the organisation provides neurorehabilitation in its assisted living house, Teach Fáilte, one-to-one and group rehabilitation in home and community settings, a case management service to support survivors and family members to navigate the complex recovery journey, in addition to neuropsychology, social work and occupational therapy. The service also recently acquired a state-of-the-art and universally accessible house in Mullingar – a property gifted to ABI Ireland by the late Eoghan Doherty, who previously received services from ABI Ireland.

Paula O'Meara, who suffered a brain injury as a result of an aneurysm, is supported by ABI Ireland in her hometown of Tullamore.

“Having weekly support from my Rehabilitation Assistant, Mary and having support from the clinical team has had a very positive impact of my rehab and road to recovery,” says Paula.

“Having a brain injury turned my life and the lives of my family upside down overnight. When I was discharged from hospital I had to adjust to a very different way of life. My memory and my mobility were impaired. I had difficulty with walking and constant fatigue, but my biggest hurdle was that my family members didn’t understand. Because I was so fatigued I would sleep a lot and, to them, I was lazy.

“People often stopped me to tell me I look great, but I knew myself I was not the person I once was. Since my brain injury, I’ve had to work on my filter because I would say things out loud that could be almost insulting, but I would not mean it.”

Paula highlighted that having access to ongoing rehabilitation support from ABI Ireland in her own community has been a lifeline.

“The team listens to me, and they work with me to identify where I am having challenges. Then we put plans in place so that I can overcome them. With ABI Ireland in my corner, I have grown in confidence and independence. I’m setting new goals for myself, such as attending Aqua Aerobics every Monday morning, and taking on the couch to 2k. I have joined three ABI cognitive groups where I meet others with similar impairments and challenges.”

Paula continues “My husband Dinny who never left my side has now gone back to work, which shows me that he has confidence in me going out alone, walking independently each day, meeting friends and getting my life back. With ABI Ireland supports, my social battery has returned. Due to education from the ABI team, my family also now have a better understanding of the effects of my brain injury. I’m thankful to ABI Ireland, and so happy to be alive.”

Catherine Lacey, Director of Service Operations with ABI Ireland, describes the comprehensive service in the Midlands as a model for other counties where neurorehabilitation services are significantly less resourced.

“We know that our partners in Government and the HSE understand the need for specialist, community-based neurorehabilitation. At Teach Fáilte, the Minister will have seen first-hand the quality of the services we can deliver, and the tangible benefits for the people we serve as they navigate life after brain injury.

“However, there are many regions in Ireland where services for people with an acquired brain injury remain significantly underfunded and under resourced.”