Brain Injury Family Education Classes

Our family education opportunities are for families and caregivers with loved ones in our inpatient brain injury program. Your case manager will help guide you to the classes, groups and training that are appropriate for you and your loved one. Please refer to the class schedules posted throughout the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Unit for specific class dates and times.

Here are descriptions of the classes that are available:

New Family Orientation Course

Meet with the ABI program director to review "what to expect" from your inpatient stay at Shepherd Center.

Disorders of Consciousness Education Class

This class is designed for the families of patients who are in our Disorders of Consciousness (DOC) Program. It is an educational class conducted by one of our neuropsychologists that reviews anatomy of the brain and what can happen when brain injury occurs. Patients' loved ones are strongly encouraged to attend as often as they like.

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Education Course

This class is designed for the families of patients who are receiving a rehabilitation level of care. It is an educational class conducted by one of our neuropsychologists that reviews anatomy of the brain and what can happen when brain injury occurs. Patients' loved ones are strongly encouraged to attend as often as they like.

Stroke Education Class

This educational opportunity for patients and families is specifically focused on wellness and stroke awareness information. Individuals are strongly encouraged to attend as many times as they like, if applicable to their situation.

You’re at Shepherd, What’s Next?

This class is presented by a member of the therapy management team to review the rehabilitation process, give resource information and help answer general questions about a patient's next steps. Individuals are strongly encouraged to attend as many times as they like.

Peer and Caregiver Support Group

Support groups provide an opportunity for patients and their loved ones to visit with former Shepherd patients and families. Individuals are strongly encouraged to attend as many times as they like.

Family Support Group

Led by our family counselor, this class provides an opportunity for families to come together as a group for networking and support. Individuals are strongly encouraged to attend as many times as they like.

Family Medical Conference

A patient's case manager will schedule a one-time family conference with the patient's attending physician. The physician will review the patient's injury, discuss discharge plans and answer any medical-related questions the loved ones have. (Please be sure to write down questions ahead of time). A patient's loved ones should notify the patient's case manager if they cannot attend so the meeting can occur via teleconference for those loved ones who cannot attend in person.

Family Team Conference

If needed, a patient's case manager will schedule a family team conference to give the patient's loved ones an opportunity to share their concerns and needs with the patient's therapy team, as well as to receive an update on the patient's progress.

Hands-on Training

Hands-on training will be provided on an ongoing basis, as determined by the needs of the patient and family to promote the care and safety of the patient. Before discharge, the family will be asked to come and spend one or more days with the therapy and nursing staff and participate in the care of the patient from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The case manager will schedule this training for the family. Please limit the number of family members to three.

TLA – Transitional Living Apartment

If needed before discharge, the patient's case manager will schedule a stay in Shepherd Center's transitional living apartment (TLA). This gives the family an opportunity to spend the night with the patient in a home-like environment, providing total care of the patient (evening and morning routine) with the support of the staff, if needed.