Press Releases

Better brain injury care drives new training program

TORONTO, August 22, 2006 – Bayshore Home Health and the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) have joined forces to produce an intensive training program for caregivers. The program ensures caregivers are well-equipped to provide brain injury expertise and coping strategies for people living with the life-altering effects of acquired brain injury (ABI).

According to the OBIA, roughly 18,000 recorded brain injuries occur every year in Ontario, with 10 per cent requiring long-term care. This figure does not account for the many serious brain injuries that may go undetected for months without proper diagnosis or care.

“When people sustain a traumatic injury such as ABI, their lives and the lives of their families can be turned upside down,” explains Holly Quinn, national director of clinical programs with Bayshore Home Health. “Every aspect of their lives – physical, emotional, mental, social, business – is affected. Fortunately, there are organizations and professional services that can provide support and help them and their families cope.”

Caring for people who have suffered a severe brain injury requires very specialized healthcare and support skills. The new Brain Basics training program developed by OBIA in consultation with Bayshore Home Health, will provide better training for caregivers. Better caregiver training translates into the best care and support for people suffering from ABI, allowing many of them to remain in their homes.

The training program is centred around a newly developed manual titled, “Brain Basics: An Owner’s Manual for People Living with ABI (Caregivers, Survivors and Family Members).” This manual is the key component of the workshop delivered by the OBIA. As the title indicates, the program can also be adapted for survivors and family members to gain a better understanding of the long-term support requirements.

To date, eight Bayshore caregivers have been certified to deliver the new workshop and a pilot session with 40 trainees has been conducted. Feedback from all attendees has been provided to further refine the manual and program content. The program will be finalized in August for rollout across Canada in the fall.

“This program is just the beginning,” says John Kumpf, Executive Director, OBIA. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to enhance the quality of care offered to the ABI population who are receiving care in their homes.”

Bayshore Home Health and the OBIA plan to expand the province-wide training program to additional Bayshore caregivers and other provincial and regional health groups across the country.

“When the certified trainers begin training more caregivers, the level of care for ABI survivors and their families will increase exponentially,” adds Quinn. “Bayshore strives to provide clients with better care so they will have a better life. The Brain Basics program is just one example of an innovative solution for serious injury care in the home.”

About Bayshore Home Health
Bayshore Home Health has been delivering home and community health care services to Canadians since 1966. Canadian owned and operated, with more than 30 offices and 5,000 caregivers across the country, the company’s primary services are in-home nursing, personal care, support and companion services. These services can be purchased privately by consumers and in many cases are funded by government care programs, personal and group insurance plans, and workplace safety insurance.

Bayshore Home Health’s specialty services include temporary staffing of health care professionals, pharmaceutical product support services, health education programs, community infusion clinics and dialysis centres.

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www.bayshore.ca